Marinated Kale Salad

Yesterday my 10 year old son and I had an special lunch at Wit and Wisdom in the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, lunch trips being a  positive side effect of Perry's physical therapy schedule.  I had a really delicious marinated kale with peanuts in Asian pear dressing. (It was a shrimp dish but I ordered it without the shrimp, wanting completely vegan fare).

So, here I tried to replicate the essence of it and maybe did not quite hit the nail on the head with a peach dressing in apple cider vinegar.  But I have been trying to marinate kale as an alternative to shredding it small in salads or simply juicing it in order to have it raw.  I am always a  bigger fan of cooked kale but have been trying for summer to pump up the raw a little.

So, anyway, I cut the kale into very thin strips because the key to kale in good recipes is to make it not feel like a huge chewy mouthful and this way it will be much more delicate.

I made my peach dressing by using apple cider vinegar.  Braggs apple cider vinegar is completely raw and contains strands of the "mother" of vinegar, reminding me of the strands of culture in kombucha.  These protein enzymes are considered hugely healthy boosters for raw vitality and lengthy life, sounds ideal to me.  Although once someone did see a concoction I made with a combo of apple cider vinegar and some kombucha and asked if it was a specimen from the river...hmm.

So anyway, I mixed mint leaves cut very small, chives and cilantro with apple cider vinegar, water and a splash of olive oil.  Then, I hand squeezed a peach over it  The dressing stayed quite tart which I like because avoiding sugar is my favorite hobby but I might suggest some raw honey for someone who wants less bite.  And, had I not just eaten half a jar of peanut butter, I would have sprinkled in a few peanuts to copy Wit and Wisdom...

So, I look forward to eating this BUT I think I will like it more the longer it marinates so I am letting it sit while I make my juice for today and tomorrow...and I am noticing that having made a black bean and four vegetable taco creation for the kids I have a LOT of cleaning up to do right now...