Cooking with Linda - Broccoli Rabe

Broccoli rabe is my husband's and my favorite vegetable. We try to eat it about once a week. Our three sons don't like it, though I think they will acquire a taste for rappini as they mature. After all, they eat edamame!

Ingredients:
one head of broccoli rabe
extra virgin olive oil
2-3 cloves of garlic
garlic powder
juice of one lemon
iodized salt
white cannellini beans (optional)

Sit down at the kitchen counter to prepare this vitamin-rich green, as it is time-consuming, at least for me. Cut off and discard roughly 2" of the hard, tough stems. Tenderize remaining stems by peeling the tough stem exterior or "skin" with a pairing knife then splitting them lengthwise, twice, so that the ends "flower."  My mother-in-law, a wonderful cook, taught me this trick. For ease of eating and incorporating this green into recipes, cut all stems and large leaves in half.  

Soak greens (split stems, leaves, florettes) in a large pot of water for ten minutes, agitating with tongs to remove any impurities. Drain water; replace with fresh, clean water. Soak again, and drain water in the sink in a large colander. The one featured in this link is my favorite, the one I use several times a week.

Lay out a clean, dry dish towel on the counter top. Place two layers of paper towels on top of dish towel; using tongs, place wet broccoli on top of the toweling to absorb some of the water. Over medium-high heat, saute 3 thinly-sliced garlic cloves in a few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil.  I cook the broccoli in my favorite large stainless steel saute pan. It comes with a clear, tempered glass lid, which helps me keep an eye on the cooking process.

Place the greens into the sizzling oil and use tongs to turn so that all leaves, stems, and florettes are lightly coated in olive oil. Saute with lid on for about 7-8 minutes or so, until broccoli is tender and bright green. Season to taste with iodized salt, garlic powder, fresh lemon juice, and a teaspoon of "raw" extra-virgin olive oil. The combination of these flavors in unbelievably savory.

Rappini - Tenderized, Ready to Saute

Cooked & Ready to Eat

I use stainless steel tongs  (a favorite cooking and serving tool) for flipping while sauteing as well as for serving (one-handed tongs for buffet service works great...for salads, especially).

A Very Versatile Green One of our favorites is broccoli rabe combined with slices of boiled-then-grilled Italian sausage and orecchiette (little ears) pasta. We also enjoy broccoli rabe with white cannellini beans.  Simply add the canned and drained beans toward the end of the saute process, so the beans become warm and flavorful.

A versatile topper, broccoli rabe is delicious on top of a grilled chicken breast or Italian bread toasted in the oven with a sprinkling of olive oil and salt. Leftover broccoli rabe leaves, tenderized stems, and delicate florettes are delicious and nutritious in a sandwich in lieu of lettuce. Or, simply place it alongside a fresh Italian roll, your favorite cheese (we are fans of Asiago and Dubliner) and (as pictured below) portabella mushrooms with roast red peppers.

Satisfying Vegetarian Lunch Carnival Glass Dish Tip from Mom: Even if it's just for the two of you, always cook the whole head of broccoli...or the whole head of boiled cabbage or cauliflower. Leftover Andy Boy broccoli or broccoli rabe can be warmed up and used as a side dish for next evening's dinner.  Or, you may want to prepare the leftover vegetables in a new way by incorporating them into a favorite recipe. ~ Linda



Cooking with Linda: Sicilian-style Pizza with Bell Peppers

Everyone here is happy when it's homemade pizza night! I grew up with homemade pizza on Fridays as well as homemade sauce (with one bay leaf and parsley from my father's backyard garden), meatballs and sometimes gnocchi on Sundays. 

Pizza made at home is a big step above the pies that are delivered.  Follow this easy recipe, and I bet your family will enjoy it very much, too.


Always helpful, our 3-year-old sprinkles
the part-skim shredded mozzerella.

Brush a light coating of extra-virgin olive oil along surface of a baking sheet. For us, this is Sicilian style because the pizza is rectangular, served in squares, and the dough is fluffy. Spread the two balls of pizza dough evenly, leaving generous amounts of dough in the corners and around the edges of the baking sheet.  This allows the tomatoes and toppings to stay in and allows for a substantial crust to hold.

Bake the pizza dough, only, for about 5-7 minutes until it rises and becomes fluffy. Remove baking sheet from oven. I have made homemade pizza dough in the past (seasoned with fresh rosemary) but I find that the dough I purchase at local pizzerias and Italian bakeries is just as tasty. I leave it out, room temperature, for about 45 minutes until I'm ready to use it.

On top the partially-baked and lightly golden pizza dough, evenly spread 3/4 can of crushed tomatos; sprinkle a generous portion of part-skim, shredded mozzarella cheese, touch of garlic salt and black pepper. Add crushed red pepper (optional).



Like his big brothers, our sweet Little Guy enjoys
occasional food prep in our kitchen!

Wash a yellow and green bell pepper; slice thinly and steam on top of the stove for about five minutes until they are tender. Without this step, the peppers may not cook enough in the oven.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until mozzarella is bubbly and light golden brown. Let the pizza cool a bit before cutting.  Although I own a large and easy-to-use Pampered Chef rolling pizza cutter, I prefer to also use kitchen scissors to cut Sicilian-style slices.



Sicilian-style Pizza topped with Yellow & Green Bell Peppers

Serve with baby arugala salad, Pellegrino with fresh lemon, and dinner is ready. Pronto!

Baking with Laura - Traditional Italian Pizzelles

Pizzelles are a tradition in our family.  Pizzelles are an Italian waffle cookie.  They are crispy and delicious, flavored with anise.  My grandmother made pizzelles on a iron with a long handle which was heated on the stove.  I use an electric pizzelle baker that makes two pizzelles at once.  I cook them for about 60 seconds each and place them on my granite countertop to cool off.  Once they are cool, sift confectioner's sugar on them.  Then you can stack them and place them in a cylindrical tupperware or other container.

We make pizzelles for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and other special events.  They are delicious with coffee or tea, as a breakfast, a snack, or a dessert. 

Traditional Italian Pizzelles

3 organic eggs
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. anise extract
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Beat eggs and sugar.  Add cooled melted butter, anise, and vanilla.  Sift flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture.  Batter should be firm enough to drop onto pizzelle griddle by teaspoonfulls.  Batter may be refrigerated for use at a later times. Makes approx 30 pizzelles, depending on the size of your pizzelle baker.
   

My sister Linda's pizzelle baker (pictured above) is the Quattro by VillaWare because it makes four, delicate waffle cookies at a time that resemble snowflakes. A similar grill called Piccolo (Italian for "small") is available from Cucina Pro: CucinaPro 220-03 Piccolo Pizzelle Baker.  In our family, people tend to take a stack of pizzelles off the dessert buffet, instead of just one, at a time.

For additional delicious flavor, try adding fresh lemon zest, orange zest, or drizzling with melted dark chocolate.

Enjoy!