Best Kale Salad for a Southern Hostess

Down South, being a hostess is a big responsibility. Whether it's a bridal or baby shower, a birthday or retirement party, what you prepare and how you present it matters to both the person being celebrated and the guests sharing in the occasion.

Lia Baker, Joe Baker’s wife, is a Southern belle at heart who enjoys opening up her home or volunteering to help host anytime she gets the chance. She believes being a hostess is more than just fancy napkins and floral arrangements. It’s a way to show love and support for family, friends, and community members.

Being a good hostess is no simple task. It takes coordination, decorations, and good food to create an event worthy of celebration. 

Coordination

A good hostess will handle planning for the person being celebrated and their immediate family. When it comes to bridal showers, brides should be able to show up to the event without worrying about desserts being present. An expecting mother should not have to order decorations for her own baby shower. A good hostess may coordinate with other hostesses to ensure that costs and responsibilities are evenly distributed and everything is prepared to the highest standard. 

Decorations

A good hostess also considers the venue's appearance. Whether that be her own home or a rented space, a good hostess will create a space worthy of the event at hand. It’s not about having the most extravagant decorations, but rather creating a space for celebration that is clean and welcoming. 

Most importantly… Food

Undoubtedly, food is one of the most important aspects of a Southern hostess’ responsibilities. Down South, we like to eat, so good food should always be present at any event. 

Check out the Kale Salad recipe below for Lia’s go-to recipe: a light, colorful salad that's sure to brighten a table and bring a tasty bite to your guests’ plates. 

Ingredients:

Salad

1 16oz bag of Baker Farms Kale (remove any hard stems)

1 pack blueberries, strawberries, or both!

1 package Feta cheese

1 cup roasted pecans, chopped

Dressing

1 jar pepper jelly (to your taste)

⅓ cup olive oil

Directions:

Melt 1 jar of pepper jelly in the microwave until it reaches a liquid consistency. Mix liquid pepper jelly with oil. 

Pour over kale and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Add fruit, pecans, and cheese. 

Toss salad, serve, and enjoy!