Sweet Kale Chopped Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Crunchy, sweet, tangy, creamy.

This Sweet Kale Chopped Salad has it all!

I flipping love summer.

I love the warm days, the cool drinks, lazily reading a book, making last minute plans with friends, the feeling of not having to rush out the door every morning and the food.

I do not love having these wonderful summer plans halted by a sick kid {but that is another story for another day}, yet I love when I text a girlfriend to come and rescue me from my pity party and she is on it like flies on sugar.

Summer I've learned is a season of give and take.  You get some really awesome days and you get some really dreadful days.  Just like when it is the dead of winter and you are all confined to that square space we call home and the warm sun is a fleeting memory of months before.

The past two days have certainly shown me that I need to remember that life still throws you strikes and you just have to deal with them and move on.

A bit like this salad.

How you ask?  Well, summer can't all be about lake parties, salt rimmed margaritas and strawberry shortcake.  If it was I'd be in trouble.  Moderation still needs to be hovering around my inner circle or that new swimsuit I bought will most definitely stay in the dresser drawer.

I'm fairly certain I've said this before, but when I've had two many days in a row of succulent sweets and creamy dips my body starts to crave some greenery.

I am NOT one of those women who eats salads every day.  I don't often crave them.  Hell, vegetables aren't really my thing but I eat them.

I first made this salad about a month ago and took it to a friend.  I'm pretty sure she loved it {unless she lied to me} and so when I bought a bag of kale at the farmer's market again last week I knew I wanted to make it again, as I only had a bite of the last one.

And seriously, kale lasts foooooooorever in the fridge.  Like weeks.  Does that stuff ever go bad?  But beyond the kale, I wanted to add in extra crunchiness so I also threw in shredded cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli {check out my garden broccoli photo HERE}.

Top that off with chewy dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and a light, yet creamy poppy seed dressing and this green bowl of goodness came together awesome.

Sweet Kale Chopped Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

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1 c. chopped kale

1 c. shredded broccoli

1 c. shredded cabbage {I used the bagged variety, with radicchio included}

1 c. shredded brussel sprouts 

1/8 c. dried cranberries

1/8 c. sunflower seeds

1/4 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

Poppy Seed Dressing: 

1/3 c. white vinegar

3/4 c. vegetable oil

1/3 c. sugar

1 T. dried onion flakes

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. dry mustard

1 T. poppy seeds

1.  In a bowl combine all salad ingredients and toss to combine.

2.  In a blender combine all ingredients except the poppy seeds.  Blend on high for 1 minutes and until dressing is creamy.  Add in the poppy seeds and pulse a few times to incorporate.

3.  Pour dressing over the salad and toss and coat.  

4.  Eat and enjoy!

Feta cheese would also be a great substitute for the Parmesan cheese, or any dried fruit instead of the cranberries.  Make this salad your own!

I thought I'd also share some other "green things" I often make when my body needs a refresher. Take a look at some of my favorites.

Broccoli Almond Chopped Salad
Sweet Heat Chicken Asian Slaw
Spinach Tortellini Salad
Green Monster Smoothie
Veggie Chop Chop Salad
Spicy Charred Broccoli
Balsamic Asparagus
Cucumber Salsa