Pan-Cooked Kale With Garlic and Olive Oil

2 large bunches kale (about 1 1/4 pounds total)

Salt, preferably kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

Freshly ground pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem the kale and wash the leaves in two rinses of water. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add a generous amount of salt and the kale. Blanch for four minutes, until the kale is tender. Transfer immediately to the ice water, then drain and squeeze the water from the leaves. Chop coarsely or cut in strips.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Stir in the kale. Stir for a couple of minutes, until the kale is nicely seasoned with garlic and oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and serve.

Yield: Serves four

Advance preparation: The blanched greens will keep in the refrigerator for about three days.

“This soup is inspired by the Portuguese national dish caldo verde (green soup), but this version contains no chorizo sausage. I’ve added a Parmesan rind to the bouquet garni to enrich the broth.”
Advance preparation: You can make the soup through step 1 a day ahead. Bring back to a simmer, and proceed with the recipe.

“This is a healthier, pared-down version of a rich, hearty dish from the Lombardy region of Italy that normally is made with buckwheat pasta (pizzoccheri), cabbage, potatoes, and abundant butter and cheese. You can substitute Japanese soba for the pizzocheri; if you can find neither, use whole wheat fettuccine.”
Advance preparation: You can make the dish through step 2 several hours ahead. Remove from the heat, then reheat when you cook the pasta.

Advance preparation: The soup will keep for about three days in the refrigerator, but the barley will swell and absorb liquid, so you will have to add more to the pot when you reheat.

“Serve this hearty gratin as a main dish. It’s good hot or at room temperature.”
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Advance preparation: This can be made a day ahead and reheated. Or prepare the vegetables through step 1 a day ahead, and assemble the gratin the next day. It will keep for four or five days in the refrigerator.

This is a typical Provençal gratin, bound with rice and eggs. Use this recipe as a template for any gratins made of cooked vegetables.
Recipe for Sauteed summer squash:
Advance preparation: The filling will keep for three days in the refrigerator. The gratin can be made a day ahead and reheated; leftovers will be good for four or five days.
Sauteed squash recipe: http://www.recipething.com/recipes/show/15945

“This refreshing soup is unbelievably easy to make. To chill it quickly, place the soup bowl inside a larger bowl, then fill the larger bowl with ice and water. For best texture, be sure to strain the soup before serving.”

“Pisto is Spain’s ratatouille, a savory mixture of summer squash, onions, garlic and tomatoes usually cooked down until the squash falls apart. This very traditional dish might also include chorizo and peppers. You can serve it as a side dish without the eggs, but with them it makes a great supper.”
Note: When you seed the tomatoes, set a strainer over a bowl. Squeeze the seeds into the strainer, then press the pulp and juice through the strainer into the bowl. Discard the seeds and use the juice as described below.
Advance preparation: The pisto will be delicious for three or four days, but until you reheat it, don’t cook the eggs. To reheat the pisto, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Transfer the cooked pisto to a lightly oiled baking dish. Make six depressions in the top, and break an egg into each one. Salt and pepper lightly, and bake in the oven six to eight minutes or until the eggs set.

“This is a quick, simple marinara sauce that will only be good if your tomatoes are ripe. If you have a food mill, you don’t have to peel and seed the tomatoes; you can just quarter them and put the sauce through the mill.”
Serve with Zucchini Pasta: http://www.recipething.com/recipes/show/15940