Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

Kale is one of the most nutritious vegetables; it offers beta carotene, vitamins K and C, lutein, and calcium, in addition to many anti-cancer properties.  It's also a gorgeous bright green, decorating the dinner plate and enhancing virtually any entree.

I was given an entire shopping bag full of kale recently, which was very generous. But kale doesn't cook down and wilt the way spinach does, so this really was a lot of vegetable to deal with. Fortunately, I like kale and I like to cook!  

I started with a simple side dish, because it was easy to make after a long day at work.  But there are many, many ways to enjoy this amazing health booster!

My friend Diana Dyer, who grows many varieties of fabulous garlic and is my only source for garlic scapes, has a blog devoted entirely to kale and its wonders: 365 Days of Kale.  Diana is a registered dietician and cancer survivor who offers health information, wit, wisdom, humor and recipes on her blog.  I'm going to have to see what goodies she offers, so that I can plow through the abundance of beautiful kale currently taking up my kitchen counter!

In the recipe below, the kale is vivid and just slightly tender. It doesn't need added salt, as the pistachios provide just enough while also adding a bit of texture and crunch.  This seems so simple, but it's really good!

Kale with Pistachios

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
3 cups chopped kale, stems removed
3 tablespoons chopped pistachios

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet.  Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.  Add kale and sauté for 2 minutes; cover and cook for 5 minutes until tender and bright green.

Sprinkle pistachios over the kale.

Serves 2-4 as a side dish.

Mary Bilyeu writes about her adventures in the kitchen - making dinner, celebrating holidays, entering cooking contests ... whatever strikes her fancy. She is also on a mission to find great deals for her Frugal Floozie Friday posts, seeking fabulous food at restaurants on the limited budget of only $5 per person. Feel free to email her with questions or comments or suggestions: yentamary@gmail.com.

You should also visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — on which she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related.

The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers - when you come to visit here, may you always be happy.