Vegan interlude

Walking down the hospital halls after neuro, every twitch, twist of the neck, or odd posture appears a nail to my hammer. Neuro lectures are captivating but depressing, largely because right now we can treat only the symptoms but not the underlying cause of several diseases. However, everything we can treat is breathtaking, and soon we will have cures for more diseases! (Hopefully.)

In the land of food, it seems that fall in upstate New York is an excuse for spice-themed binge eating: s'mores to "reward" hiking, cider doughnuts to "reward" apple picking, apple and pumpkin desserts, etc. In between all this sugary indulgence, it's nice to have a few items that are hearty and comforting but healthy! Last weekend I made a kitchen-sink vegetable soup; this week I went the raw route.

"Massaged" kale salad (I don't believe in pampering vegetables, but the brief effort here pays off. Recipe took all of two minutes!)

• 1/2 bunch dino kale, stems removed, sliced crosswise into ribbons, and washed
• 1/2 or 1 avocado, cubed
• handful of cherry tomatoes, washed and sliced in half
• small handful of almonds, toasted and chopped
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil
• pinch of salt (apparently this helps to soften the kale)

In a large bowl, dress the kale with oil, vinegar, and salt. Wash your hands and then massage the kale, grabbing handfuls at a time and rubbing them together between your fingers or palms. (Surprisingly therapeutic!) After a minute or two, the kale will be noticeably softer. Toss in your other ingredients! The buttery, nutty avocado makes this quite comforting despite the lack of cheese or bread.