Orcchiette, Sausage with Rabe

I guess I need to begin this entry by apologizing for not getting an entry written for quite some time.  It's tough living in Naples with all the sunshine, golf, beaches, friends along with a little work called Angelina's Biscotti.  Our calendar is full most of the time.  It's a good thing I have my girl Judy letting my know what's on my schedule!

What I love to do best is create meals for anyone that is hungry.  Yesterday was a food day as it was chilly (yes, it does get cold in Naples for a couple of days each year) and our niece Kelli flew in for a quick visit.  I began the day by taking my leftover potatoes and peas from last nights dinner and making a version of potato pancakes.  It makes me crazy to waste food so I always try to do something with leftovers.  From there I made a pizza with leftover dinner from Thursday night!  The three of us devoured the entire pie.  Yes, it was beginning to be a great day.

That brings me to dinner.  Any time I make this dish, people ask for the recipe.  It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish if you have everything ready to go.  I made it for my family during Christmas week as it's one of their favorite dishes.  Most important, my mother and Aunt are coming tomorrow for ten days (Yipee) and this is one of their requests so I will be making it again next week!

Orecchiette, Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Ingredients:

2 bunches Rabe
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sausage meat.  (either ground or 6 links with the casings removed)
3 garlic cloves - minced
crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
1 pound orcchiette
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for table)

Directions:

Chop tough part of stems off the rabe and place in boiling water for 4  minutes.  Remove, drain and cool until you can chop into smaller pieces.

At the same time, add oil to large, heavy pan on medium heat and add sausage until browned approximately 8 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.  After 5 minutes add the garlic and crushed red pepper.

Once the rabe is ready, remove from pan and using the same water, bring back to a boil and add salt and the orecchiette and cook as directed on the package.  Some people might prefer to change the water, but if you are a rabe fan, use the same water as it adds flavor.

Place the pasta in the sausage and rabe mixture, remove from heat and add the Parmesan.

Mangia!

As I said, this is easy and most important, my family loves it.  I added a little prosciutto and cheese to begin the meal and a beet salad to round it off.  And not that we needed it, I also made a panettone bread pudding for dessert.  See, I told you it was a day of cooking.  I am still smiling...

Try this dish and let me know what you think.  I'm sure you will be smiling too.  By the way, hug your family every chance you get.  There's nothing better in life...

Fino a quel momento,

Linda