Fall Kale Salad for Thanksgiving

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I'll be on the television show, Better KC, on KCTV 5 November 2, at 9 am making this easy, healthy Thanksgiving salad with seasonal fruits and kale. You can find me the next day at The Kansas City Store, Kansas City Store on the Plaza, 314 Ward Parkway, KCMO 64112, Saturday, Nov. 3rd, doing a book signing from 1:30-3:30.


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FallKale Salad
Seasonal, local, fall flavors like pears, apples and cranberrieslend themselves so well to those traditional rich, savory dishes and sauces,and desserts. However, they also taste great in lighter dishes — dishes you canfeast on, relatively guilt-free.
This kale dish is light, healthier, but full of seasonalgoodness with kale, pears, apples, cranberry and pumpkin seeds. I hate throwingout leftover salad that wilts from the dressing. The kale here stands up to thedressing, and you can save the leftovers for the next day! By tossing the fruitwith the vinaigrette, it prevents browning and you can do the chopping and prepwell in advance of the meal, making it easier on you, too.
1 bunch kale, leaves torn finely, discard stems2 apples, diced1 pears, diced4 figs, quartered, optional1/2 lemon, juice1/4 cup craisins1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
Dressing3 Tbs. cranberry sauce (yes, the canned stuff!)3 Tbs. balsamic vinegar3 Tbs. olive oilSalt and pepper to taste1/2 lemon, juice
The day before Thanksgiving, wash the kale and remove the stems.Tear into small pieces, and dry in a salad spinner. Store in a plastic bag, inthe vegetable crisper of the fridge, with a paper towel tucked in the bag toabsorb excess moisture. Add the pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries together ina small container.
Three hours before dinner, whisk the salad dressing together.Chop the apples and pears. Squeeze half the lemon over them to help preventbrowning. Folding apple and pear into the dressing also prevents browning.Store in the refrigerator.
Before dinner, place thekale on a platter, blend the dressing and fruit again in case the oil hasseparated. Toss the kale with the fruit and dressing. Sprinkle the pumpkinseeds and dried cranberries on top. This should just take minutes.