BY DONNA WESTFALL

Last year we ran a contest to find that one recipe that kale haters could love.  No winners. Not one and no kale consumed all year long until now. So, we’re re-running the article because kale is really nutritious, and I have found a recipe that I think is DELICIOUS.  And, I’ll share the recipe at the end of this article.  Let us know if you agree it is good eatin’.

• “Who knew that that green leafy vegetable is sooooo good for you?  It doesn’t taste particularly good, IMO (in my opinion). Why bother?
• Because it’s a SUPERFOOD.  It doesn’t just have Vitamin’s A, K, Iron and good for your bone density and good for the eyes.  It has more vitamins than any other green vegetable including broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts and cabbage.
• Did you know that kale has been grown for over 2,000 years starting in regions as north as Russia and down to the Mediterranian Sea?
• It can be used in soups, drinks, dips, salads or steamed, boiled, or stir fried with other vegetables. I’ve got it growing in my garden and rarely use it.  Every time I juice it, it clogs up my juicer.  Ever time I steam it, I use very little of it and favor other vegetables.
• How to turn this around?  I’m thinking, “Why bother to purchase multi-vitamins if I can just eat the darn kale?” So, here’s the deal.  We’re sponsoring a recipe contest.  We will award a $20 gift certificate to Vita Cuccina for the best recipe.  Here’s the hitch.  I will prepare each recipe. My husband has agreed to taste and to select the winning recipe.  Here’s why.  Because he can’t stand kale even more than me. Get us to eat kale and win a gift certificate.

The I Love Sweet Potato and Kale Patties:

First,  I nuke 2 medium size sweet potatoes (or yams) – and mash those suckers up.  About 1 1/2 – 2 cups

Next I cut into thin strips and chop up the kale (I harvested from my yard.) About 1 cup.  More if you like kale.  REMEMBER, cut out the thick stems in the kale and discard or add to your compost pile.

Chop an onion – about 1/2 cup of chopped onion

2 chopped cloves of garlic

Combine kale, potatoes, onions, and garlic with 1/2 cup of all purpose flour.  I use BOB’s Red Hill Unbleached White All Purpose Flour.

Then add 1/2 cup of PANKO bread crumbs which I found at Safeway or WalMart…can’t remember.

Add two or probably three beaten eggs to combine all ingredients.

Add salt, pepper or try using SPIKE, my personal favorite seasoning.

Your batter should be thicker than pancake batter, but not too thick.

Don’t be afraid to adjust some of the ingredients.

Now, drop aabout 2 tablespoons of the mixture into a frying pan with a good amount of hot olive oil.

Cook for several minutes on each side until golden brown, not burnt.

Once cooked, place on a paper towel to absorb some of that oil.

Taste.

If you want you can add a sauce to the pattie.  Some like hummus, some like yogurt.  I liked it just plain without any sauce.  My friend poured Ranch dressing on it and loved it.

Let me you how you did.