Kale...

[starry-eyed-doe]

Is it just me or is it insanely bitter and disgusting? i put some in a green smoothie and I am choking it down, reluctantly... :eek:

Is it okay to drink this? Really, I'm kinda scared, lol, but seriously, I just bought this kale today, and it isn't rotten...

[anthony11]

I find it bitter too, so it's not just you. I tried it in a green smoothie once. ONECCCCCCCCE. (apologies to Johnny Dangerously). I found, though, that if I cut it into shreds and used it in a salad with tomato, cucumber, etc., it was easier to get down, especially with a vinegar/basil/cilantro/garlic/pepper dressing.

I've also found that Swiss chard is a lot more benign in a gustatory sense, and am using it in my salads instead of kale. Spinach is just smurfy, but I suspect that the nutrients it offer aren't the same.

There was a Cheers episode where Woody is hired for a single line in an ad for a veggie drink, which was so awful that he couldn't in good conscience say that it was yummy. He got a hypnotic suggestion to like the stuff and I'll never forget him grooving on it -- "I can really taste the kale!!".

[Smileen]

I find that if I put two pieces of fruit in with kale in a green smoothie that I can't taste it at all. Also, if you put a half of organic lemon in that helps too.

[Secret Heart]

I must be weird...I like the taste of kale...granted I have other things in the salad with it...but it is my "leafy green" in most of my salads. Collard greens scare me...I'm sure I"ll try them soon...

[Leiloshka]

My normal morning smoothie has become strawberries, banana, carrot, kale and flax seed. With all this, I don't taste the Kale much and I put quite a bit in. Enough that the drink is very green. :D

[sweetgoddess]

doe, the kale at the grocers is big, mature and probably not the first picking. If you grow your own or can find smaller, younger kale there is a world of difference in the taste. Also, if you grow your own kale and let it freeze while in the garden, then pick after it thaws, it is sweet. Kale likes cold weather, and can be repicked, with subsequent pickings becoming stronger and more bitter.

Its best in early spring and late fall!

Blessings~

[VeganVixen]

I LOVE ,LOVE ,LOVE kale :D !!!!!


I like dino kale , green kale , red kale ,russian kale ,marinated kale , kale and sea weed , kale gumbo ,kale jambalaya , kale etouffe........:p whoops thats from a movie ,isnt it?

[Autumn]

Don't be scared. :) But, I for one, do not eat things I do not like. I do try new things from time to time, to see if my tastebuds have changed, but I will not force anything down just for the sake of nutrients. I feel there are so many options for each nutrient that surely I can find a substitute that I *do* like. If it's really making you sick, why drink it?

I'm not much for kale, but I loveeeeee collards. That is *our* collards, not the big, bitter, old, stinkin' collards from the grocery store. See SweetG's post on kale and that is exactly how collards grow. The leaves after a frost are sooo sweet and delicious, but as long as they are baby-sized (we pick them hubby's hand size or smaller), they are tender and wonderful. Our best collards are in January (here in AL).

[Sweet lips]

I love greens, and I agree with RP and Autumn (neat new pic), they may not be tender, but large. You also may have used too much - a leaf is good with enough fruit or in a tomato veggie based drink. It can burn as well when using too much.

On the recipe side, there is one for marinated greens, which in my opinion, is excellent. You can also soak it in a little salt water and use it for a wrap, try the Phillycheese steak and it is off the hook.

[Ginger]

LOL@VeganVixen!!!

[Jackie1995]

I'm a kale gal, with my green smoothies, but ALWAYS with banana and one other fruit, like peach, or pineapple, or grapes - something. Then I never taste the kale, even tho it is the big stuff at the super mart. I use about 2-3 leaves per smoothie. Without the banana, fahgeddaboutit.

Also, have tried collards this week, they are also huge leaves, and bitter if I use too many in the smoothie it's noticeable, but not horrible (today I had 7, it was too much, the dregs of the smoothie taste decidedly peppery.).

Spinach I can use 3 huge handfuls, no problems at all.

But I like to experiment, so next is bok choy. Oh, I have used turnip greens, they're OK, but much better in salad because they are quite flavorful. And broccoli rappini but they're quite expensive, so I don't do those often.

Just play around, have fun, and don't forget the bananas!

Jackie

[FreshAir]

I remember about 6 weeks ago when I first tried the dark curly kale (like what they use to decorate salad bars with). Couldn't decide if it was going to come back up before I got it down :D But finally this morning, assuring my 21 yr old son it was much better now, I got him to drink a glass, and even he agreed this was pretty good.

I peel an orange and put it in the blender first, then add just a little more water, maybe 1/2 cup. (That is just enough liquid for my blender to easily blend the greens). I add a leaf or two of kale, a handful of spinach leaves, a handful of sprouts, and a squirt or two of agave nectar. The agave really made the difference - much more mild tasting and palatable! Then I blend that up into a green liquid. Then I add to that 2 or 3 bananas and 5 or 6 frozen or fresh strawberries. Blend it all up, then add 5 or 6 ice cubes, blend about 20 seconds more if you want a cold, thick shake.

Trust me, it really does get better ;) . I hate to see people give up on the really dark greens because they do so much for you, and believe me, I was the worst at eating anything green before I started sprouts and raw a few months ago! Now I start every morning with a blenderfull of it.

http://whfoods.org/foodstoc.php?PHPSESSID=8718ff50d79fbd0cdcb1cc5336f 5d5bf is a great sight to check out what all of our fruits and veggies do for us. -Dianne

[sport]

I have just started the green smoothie for breakfast and this morning I did spinach Kale and banana. As much as I want my husband to eat more healthy I almost resented it when after tasting it he asked me to share. Tomorrow I will be making a double lot.

[starry-eyed-doe]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I will try just a leaf or so now instead of the 2 or 3 i was using before. Also, like you said sweetgoddess, I am buying the kale from Whole Foods, so it is probably not the best in terms of youngness or sweetness. I think I'll just finish the bag and look for some at the farmer's market next time. Thanks again everyone!