Apple, Kale, Celery, and Grilled Chicken Salad

  Easy lunch, meal prep, or light dinner...this entree comes together in 10 minutes. It's so worth the time and small effort you put into it. It has the perfect amount of sweet and salty mixed with a happy crunch. The almonds and grilled chicken will leave you feeling full, which a lot of salads cannot boast about. Makes enough for two full bowls or double the recipe and get 5 days worth of meal prep. *See note below recipe if prepping. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 packed cup of kale 
• 4 large celery stalks chopped
• 1 large, sliced, grilled, chicken breast
• 2 T lemon juice
• 2 sprigs of lemon thyme (or regular) loosely chopped
• 1 small Fiji apple thinly sliced
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• Drizzle of olive oil
• 1 T butter or ghee
• 1/4 cup of chopped, roasted, almonds
• 2 smaller cloves of garlic finely chopped

Directions:

1. In a smaller sauce pan heat up 1 T butter or ghee with chopped garlic and roasted almonds. Cook on a medium heat for only a few minutes. You'll be allowing the butter to heat up along with the garlic and almonds so that they flavor the butter and don't burn. You only want to cook for a bout a minute or two when the pan heats up. Watch carefully because you don't want burned garlic and nuts. You'll smell it and taste it if they are burnt. Set the garlic, nut, and butter mixture aside (off the stove) to pour over the salad when you're ready. 
2. In a bowl add in the kale, celery, apples, and thyme.
3. Drizzle the salad mix with olive oil lightly. Then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and mix together well. 
4. Squeeze the lemon juice over top of salad.
5. Pour the garlic, butter, and almond mixture over top of the mixed salad. 
6. Stir everything together.
7. Serve immediately or chill for later, either way it'll be delish! 

*If you're using this as a meal prep, lightly toss the apples in a little extra fresh lemon juice to help slow down the browning process. Also keep the olive oil and lemon juice separate in a smaller container to add in fresh when you're ready to serve. The garlic, butter, and almond mixture can be added ahead of time if tossed all over evenly.