The other day, before grocery shopping, I didn't have a lot of food in the house. When that happens, I usually take a look at what I have and then try to come up with something tasty. It's kind of an art form, to create something out of next to nothing. I think I learned the art from my mother, who had to make things stretch on a very minimal budget.

Here's what I created, and it turned out great!

KALE AND RED PEPPER SALAD

6-10 large kale leaves, chopped very small

1 large red pepper

1/4 cup finely sliced onion

juice of 1/2 a lemon (or more, depending on taste)

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon chat masala (optional)

Sprinkle the chopped kale with some salt and a little bit of olive oil, and then massage it (yes, massage it--it causes the kale to wilt, as though it was cooked!).Chop half of the red pepper into small pieces, and finely slice the other half into nice long, thin strips. Mix all ingredients together.