A copycat of one of my favorite restaurant meals, this Tuscan Kale Salad is so easy and delicious it will soon be making a regular appearance in your kitchen!
Hello Friends!
I hope your weekend was great. Mine was, well…HOT. Other than that things were low key around here. After road tripping to Tucson last weekend, I was more than happy to be home for an entire weekend. I feel like when I’m gone over a weekend I always have so much catching up to do when I get home. I’m not sure how that’s possible. I mean I used travel weekly as a consultant. Somehow I feel like my life was more organized when I traveled than it is now. I was talking to someone the other day about how so much of my time is wasted sitting in traffic during the week that by the time I do get home from work I only have an hour or two before it’s bed time and the whole thing starts all over again. Every day is groundhog day. I don’t get it. I’m a very organized person.
My plethora of injuries have slowed me down and that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. I mentioned a few weeks ago the heel of my good foot has been hurting since Munich. According to the orthopedic, all the walking we did there was too much for my fragile body. I should have mentioned to him how I opted out of a beer garden one night because the person taking us ended up taking us on a scavenger hunt across the city because he couldn’t decide where to take us. I eventually left the group because it was too much for me. No one in the group was even concerned that something may have been wrong and left me alone to take the train back to the hotel.
Also according to the orthopedic I have plantar fasciitis.. Now I’ve never had plantar fasciitis before so I’m not really sure what it’s supposed to feel like. It seems odd to me it would be going on this long, since April and be this painful. When I got back from Germany, it was fine for weeks then in May it came back. These last 3 weeks it’s been really bad. It feels like the back of my heel is about to rip off. Usually the pain is worse in the morning. I have to stretch excessively to calm it down. Then if I sit too long it tightens again. The pain has been so bad these last weeks I’ve had to wear my boot on and off to tame it. I can’t wear the boot too long though because my right leg is still too weak from last year’s injuries to carry the weight of my body. As a result, the pain and stiffness has come back in my right leg. I’m in pain all around and the only relief I get is working out. I’m not sure if this is just plantar fasciitis or something else about to rear it’s ugly head.
All I know is I’m about to lose my mind. After two stress fractures last year, I can’t take anymore. I want to get up in the morning and not have to deal with this anymore. I want to run again and feel like myself. Tomorrow I’m seeing a naturopathic. A friend recommended it may be best for me to see them about my hormone issues. I only hope they will help because no other doctor really has to this point. Later this week I’ll give you more details about what’s happened with my estrogen and the diagnosis I received at Mayo Clinic because that’s an entire post in itself and we would never get to this delicious salad.
[Tweet “For a quick & #healthy meal toss up this Tuscan #kale #salad”]
Remember when I said I was gonna recreate this salad? You guys. I cracked the code. Well, it wasn’t really that hard. My version is missing one ingredient that’s in theirs, the bread crumbs. I wanted mine to be a little lighter though so if your heart desires add 1/2 cup bread crumbs to this. I will say though it’s all about the cheese. I knew the recipe had parmesan like cheese in it except it had a sharper flavor. I went to Whole Foods and the nice lady at the counter let me test an assortment of cheese that day until I made the match. The things you do as a blogger! It was fun. Thankfully making the salad was much less complicated than finding the cheese. And eating it? Yeah that was a no brainer!
- 6 cups kale
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup Pecorino Tocscano cheese* (can sub parmesan)
- 2 cloves garlic
- juice of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
- Clean, cut & remove kale ribs
- In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, garlic, cheese & red pepper flakes
- Pour dressing over kale & toss
- Allow salad & dressing to combine 10 minutes in the refrigerator before enjoying
*Pecorino Toscano cheese is a specialty cheese usually found next to Parmesan
Have you ever had plantar fasciitis? What strange thing have you done for blogging?
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Instagram
Disclaimer – Affiliate links are included, which enable me to earn a small income and do not affect purchase price. Money earned goes back into my large grocery bill to bring you more delicious recipes!
[AdSense-A]
[shareaholic app="share_buttons" id="27416563"]
So sorry you’re still in so much pain, the frustration with that is just terrible. Love that you recreated this salad, kale is definitely one of my favorites 🙂 sending your heel good vibes!
I feel frustrated & very sad. This has been going on too long. Thanks for the positive stuff, I need it!
Yummmm! This sounds lovely, and yes, perfect for summer! By the way, we have a lovely new button if you want to add it 🙂 Isn’t it great when you find a similar recipe to one you love from a restaurant, and it tastes even better! I love that! Sorry to hear about the injuries…….I would like to help, there has to be something going on……..would you want to try and figure it out with me? I hate hearing how many things keep going wrong, its not fair on you my friend!
Thanks for the offer Tina. Honestly, I’m willing to try anything at this point. I don’t understand what’s going on with my body.
We are on the same page with our kale salads today. Yummy! Sorry to hear about your PF I just got through this myself. It was a terrible few months. I did everything. ugh I feel for you! My best advice is let it heal (no pun intended) and try to stay off of it.
Staying off your feet is a hard thing! I bought a night splint over the weekend & already it’s feel a whole lot better, but I can tell it’s still fragile. How long did yours stick around?
I am so sorry to hear you are still in so much pain. You have had a real struggle. I think it’s awesome you go to regular doctors and pursue all different natural healing options as well. It will come together. Keep on swimming as they say in Finding Nemo. The salad looks delicious!
I usually have more luck with the holistic stuff than the real doctors. Crossing my fingers because I’m at the end of my tolerance.
I’ve had really bad plantar before. And I still get it now to some points, but I try to stay ahead of it by constantly rolling the arches of my feet out on a golf ball daily, and getting a reflexology massage about once a week.
I’ve been rolling my feet since my first injury last year. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who does it. Everyone always looks at me weird when I whip up a golf ball during a meeting.
this sounds to die for! Going to make it this week, thank you for sharing!
Let me know how you like it!
I love mixing kale with parmesan – so many good textures and flavors!!
Sometimes the simplest ingredients make the best meals!
Kale + Olive Oil === how I get the kale in my face
So so good…BTW see you next week at FitBloggin’!
Oh man that sucks about your plantar fasciitis! I’ve been battling it for over a year now. It sucks and I have had to limit my running and do other stuff to cross train but it got me super depressed. It’s getting better but I am not 100% better. Stretching helps a lot but it will always hurt the most in the mornings. I had to change my shoes and I no longer walk bare foot. My physical therapist actually told me I was a candidate for surgery but I refuse to go that route. But in the bright side…that salad looks amazing!! 🙂
I bought a night splint this weekend and it has helped tremendously. I fear I’m never going to be the same Daisy and I’ve been very depressed about it so you’re not alone. I know what you mean when you can’t do what you love. It takes a huge tole on you mentally & emotionally. One of my friends had her PF cut via surgery and said she would never do it or recommend to anyone. She said the pain was worse after and never really went away. She’s also a physician.
That salad looks SO GOOD!
Sadly plantar fasciitis can take FOREVER to go away if that is, what it is. My sister dealt with it for 2+ years during here college soccer career. Sending some well wishes your way, you deserve for your body to give you a break and be pain free!
2 years??? Wow! I can’t even imagine. Everyone I talk to says it’s really nasty to get rid of. I really need a break. I feel like I can’t take it anymore.
Simply delicious, I love it!
Hi Sarah! Glad you like it! I adore this salad.
Meghan,
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with these freaking injuries again! I’m praying for you and sending you healing vibes. I know how frustrating it is! I’m dealing with some injuries again too. I think I strained or tore my left hip flexor while running the other day. I’m actually going to get an MRI hopefully this week after I see the Doctor tomorrow to see if I have a stress fracture in my hip bone. I hate it! Just when you feel like things are going well and your body is feeling good–you get injured again. It just makes me want to give up sometimes.
I’m sorry to be a Debby Downer–but I just need to vent. I feel like everyone is doing these crazy bikini challenges and pushing their bodies to the limits–and the second I just push a teeny bit harder–I get injured. It’s like 2 steps forward 5 steps back constantly!
I’m curious thought about your estrogen issues. I’ve always had really irregular periods–basically nonexistent my whole life. I’ve always had hormone issues–but no doctor ever really figured out what was wrong. I think that definitely has to do with why I get injured so often. I have really brittle bones. I probably don’t produce any estrogen either. Have you been taking an estrogen supplement? Sorry for all the questions and ranting.
Just know I’m here for you and know what you’re going through. You just want to wake up in the morning and feel pain free.
Stay Strong,
Yaara
Hi Yaara! Thank you for sharing your story and thoughts. I really do appreciate it. It helps hearing from other people. Really does. I think part of what makes it hard is my family being far away and my friends aren’t here either. I feel like I have no one, but you reminded me I have you and everyone else that reads my blog. I’m so sorry to hear about your injury. I truly hope it is not a stress fracture in your hip. I fractured my femur years ago & it affected my hip. I struggle with it to this day. I know what you mean about everyone else being able to push it, but for some reason our bodies are more fragile than theirs I guess. I have a post going up Thursday that talks about my hormone issues. It definitely was the cause of my stress fractures. You may want to ask your doctor about yours if you think it may be a problem. Take it easy & keep me posted on your MRI. xoxo
This sounds amazing!!! Gotta love kale 🙂
Do you know I didn’t start eating it until last year?
love kale and will have to try this…looks so darn good. Stopping by from #FullPlateThursday
Your Tuscan Kale Salad looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your post with Full Plate Thursday and have a great day!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen