Kale with Sweet Potato and Quinoa

Happy Monday! If you follow me on instagram then you'll know that I spent the majority of last week at Americasmart. I hosted a presentation on "How to Host the Perfect Party" with book signing as well as a cooking demo and as always had a total blast meeting new faces and seeing some friends who came out. Thank you all!I am on day 11 of my 21 day juice cleanse. Half way there! Hooray! I'm feeling really good and super energized which is great because I've needed that energy. As far as dinner goes, I'm always on the hunt for great, clean recipes. This is a fantastic vegetarian side that I found on the Daily Meal Blog My friend actually told me about this recipe and I am excited to share it with you. I think it's the perfect side dish paired with grilled salmon. Just remember that a 1 cup serving is plenty during a cleanse.

Kale with Sweet Potato and Quinoaserves 4You will need:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• *2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes, tossed in 2 tablespoon olive oil, roast for 30- 45 minutes in a 400 degree oven until lightly browned. set aside until ready to toss with all the ingredients.
• 1/2 cup sliced button mushrooms
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
• 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions:

In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the quinoa, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until water is absorbed.Bake off the sweet potatoes as described above. *Note I have added my own spin on the sweet potatoes, I like to roast them separately to add depth of flavor to this dishMeanwhile, heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the stock, salt, pepper, and chile flakes. Stir to combine. Add the kale and cook for about 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.To serve, toss the quinoa with the vegetable mixture.The Daily Meal is a great resource for anything food and entertaining. Check it out!{I am a contributor to the Daily Meal, but did not write this recipe}