Sauteed Kale With Walnuts and Shiitake Mushrooms

Kale can be hard vegetable to love and can be intimidating if you have never used it in cooking before, but it is really healthy and can be delicious!  My mom has been making this recipe for years and it's a staple in our household.

-one bunch of kale
-3 cloves of garlic (more or less, depending on how much you like kale)
-1/3 cup raw walnuts
-a handful or two of dried shiitake mushrooms
-olive oil
-salt and pepper

To rehydrate the dried mushrooms, put them in a bowl and fill with warm water until all the mushrooms are covered.  They might want to float so I usually put something heavy on top of them.  Let them soak for 20 or 30 minutes, or until they are soft.
While the mushrooms are soaking, chop up kale and garlic.  Cut off the stems of the kale and through them in the compost.  Put the rest of the kale in a bowl and set aside.  Chop the garlic into thin slivers and set aside.

Put about a tablespoon or so of olive oil in the pan and cook the garlic and walnuts for a few minutes, making sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan.  Cook until garlic is slightly browned and walnuts are toasted.

Add the kale to the garlic and walnuts, making sure to combine the walnuts and garlic throughout the kale.  Put a cover on the kale and cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
Serve warm and add salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!