Broccoli anyone???

I know it's Saturday, but..................................

I was watching Julia Child's Master Chefs today and guess who was on???  Lidia!!!!!  The episode was from 1993 and she was soooooo young!!!  Oh my, it was great!!!  She made a mushroom risotto and orechiette pasta with sausage and broccoli di rappi - or broccoli rabbe.  It looked fabulous and I decided that's what we're having for dinner.  Since I didn't have any sausage thawed, we went to the new Wegmans that opened up in King of Prussia.  I bought Italian sausage patties, more broccoli and some other things, of course. 

My husband doesn't like broccoli di rappi, so I made the recipe with regular broccoli and it was just as good.  It's so easy to make, takes about 1/2 hour and dinner is served!  Try this, I hope you like it!!


Orechiette alla Broccoli e Salcicci

1 lb Orechiette pasta
1 lb sausage
good size broccoli florets (about 8 inches around)
2 plump garlic cloves
2 cups chicken stock (or veggie stock)
salt, pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
crushed red pepper to taste
locatelli cheese to taste

In a 12" heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil.  Take the casing off the sausage and add to the olive oil.  Break up the sausage and let it get a tiny bit crispy.  While the sausage is cooking, bring the pasta pot of water to boil.  Smash the garlic cloves and add to the sausage while cooking.  Chop the broccoli into medium size pieces.   When the sausage looks just about done (no pink), add the broccoli, chicken stock, salt and pepper to taste.  Stir it well, bring it to a slight boil, lower the heat to medium and cover.  When the pasta water is boiling, salt the water, then add the pasta.  Cook until desired tenderness.  I like al-dente, your choice.  When the pasta is done, drain and to the sausage & broccoli, mix well.  Lower the heat to medium low and simmer for about 5 to 10 mins until all of the flavors meld together.  Serve with locatelli cheese and hot pepper if you like it spicy.   You can add the crushed red pepper to the mixture and let it cook together, but this depends on if you like your food spicy.  I do, hubby doesn't.

Enjoy!!!!!