Gratin Italian sausage and kale

I love teasing people about kale. It's the new kid on the block and folks are still discovering it and getting that shiny new convert look when you tell them it's survival food (ie. people eat it when there's nothing left to eat). The truth is that 1) I like kale just fine and 2) it is not new food. It's been around for a long, long time because it's so hardy and reliable. Cook it right, and it's a sweet treat. But it does have a very strong flavor and not everyone is a fan, so if you want to serve kale to a finnicky table, match it with equally strong flavors. This dish is a cheesy saucy gooey warming dish with a lovely crunchy topping.

Some olive oil

1 lb fresh mild or hot Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled

⅓ cup dry white wine

2 bunches (about 1 pound) kale, stemmed and torn into large pieces

½ cup (4oz/114gr) + 3 Tbsps (1.5oz/42gr) butter, melted

⅓ cup flour

2 cups milk

8oz fresh goat cheese or feta

3oz freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1 cup fresh bread crumbs

1 Tbsp minced fresh herbs (such as a combination of parsley, oregano and basil)

1. Heat the oven to 350°F degrees.
2. In a large stainless steel sauté pan, heat the oil and cook the sausage, breaking it up. Cook until browned (usually when the moisture has evaporated). Remove any excess fat.
3. Add the wine scraping up the fond. Continue to cook until the wine reduces and is mostly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. 
4. Decrease the heat and stir in the kale, one handful at a time. Mix in the kale and cook until it begins to wilt and turn a bright green. Don't worry about overcooking the kale; it is impossible, unless you burn it! Remove from heat and set the pan aside.
5. Meanwhile, dump the bread crumbs in a medium sized bowl.
6. Melt all the butter in a saucepan. When melted, put 3 Tbsps of it into the breadcrumb bowl.
7. Into the remaining butter, whisk in the flour; continue wisking until starting to brown. Add the milk, whisking constantly, until it thickens into a sauce.
8. Add the crumbled goat cheese to the roux and continue to whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
9. Pour the sauce into the sausage and kale and let sit 5 minutes to allow any more fond to lift. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon to scrape up the fond and mix the sauce evenly in the sausage and kale.
10. Spoon the mixture into a shallow, 2 quart gratin dish.
11. To the breadcrumb and butter, add parmesan and minced fresh herbs. Mix thoroughly, then evenly distribute over the kale and sausage to form the topping.
12. Bake the gratin until the topping is golden-brown and the filling is bubbly, about 30 minutes (briefly broil at this point if not browned enough).
13. Cool slightly before serving with crusty bread if eating as a main dish.

Classic Greek Salad

I use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes to make a vinaigrette. The acidity from the tomatoes, the pungent heat from the onion, and the saltiness from the cheese and olives supply the other flavours to make up the vinaigrette. Simple and quick and refreshing and, most importantly, delicious.

3 cucumbers
1½ cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
3 cups diced roma tomatoes
⅓ cup diced oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
2 Tbsps. oil from sun-dried tomatoes (or to taste)
½ red onion, sliced

1. In a large bowl toss together all the ingredients and toss well so that the oil covers the ingredients evenly.
2. Chill until serving.

Shakshuksha

This lovely brunch-type meal, which is, actually, good at any time. With all the peppers and spices, you'd think it would be unbearably hot but, actually, it is just right. I have a recipe for the spice mix harissa somewhere...

2  Tbsp olive oil
½  cup (26gr) onion, minced
1  cup fennel bulb, minced
2 serrano chillies, minced
1 jalapeno, minced
½  cup green bell pepper, minced
½ tsp salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
1  Tbsp harissa
1  tsp sweet spanish smoked paprika
28oz (796 mL) diced canned tomatoes
½  cup water
6 eggs
2  Tbsps parsley, chopped
½  cup feta

1. Cook onion and fennel in oil in large skillet until soft, 3 minutes. Add chiles, pepper and salt, cook, stirring 8 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and spices and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes and water, simmer until thickened, 10 minutes.
2. Crack eggs into the sauce gently, to poach. Cover and cook in low heat until whites are firm and yolk is runny, 5 minutes.
3. To serve, sprinkle each portion with parsley and feta.

A Summery Salad - Cucumber, Tomato, Avocado Salad

This salad is simple and delicious but requires a lot of fine dicing. It's a great opportunity to develop dicing skills, but if in a rush, not a good recipe for a quick meal.
Please note that the veggies are best when diced into small cubes. It causes that same feeling of plenty that pasta does to me.

1/4 English cucumber, peeled and diced

1 to 2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 avocado, diced
1/4 small red onion, diced
1 bunch fresh mint leaves, finely chopped en chiffonade
A few spoonfuls of olive oil
A dash of red wine vinegar
A squirt of lemon juice
Salt and pepper
Boston or Cos lettuce leaves
OPTIONAL Chèvre cheese or feta cheese

1. Dice the avocado first and toss with a squeeze of lemon to prevent browning.
2. Dice remaining vegetables and toss with the chopped mint.
3. Season to taste at the last minute with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve the salad in individual servings in a single lettuce leaf “boat.”
4. OPTIONAL: This is also good with goat cheese or feta cheese scattered on top.