broccoli rabe

by the way... the picture here is an actual picture i took one sunny, late july afternoon, during a little bath time. its one of the perks that comes with being a voice over person, you run around all day, "killing time" till the next audition or booking.

in the warm seasons of new york you can relish in this killing of time, toting your digital camera (when its working) around and snapping away. like these little baby birds taking a break from the hot sun to cool off in the broken fountain in the community garden on hudson and charles.

in the slowness of rhythm of the mind, one can quiet the arbitrary urges, and ego-driven persistence of what my guru and teacher calls the body of pain. and when that subsides to a murmuring stir, our eyes are opened and we can notice the little things that bring joy to our lives and others. Like the flapping of the feathers to ward off any residual water of the little bird bath, or the wind running through your eyelashes, reminding us it can reach places we cannot fathom, and the perfection, and simplicity and rarity of broccoli rabe. (pronounced rahhhb)

yes its bitter to taste, but oh so delicious with a piece of italian bread the day after...

(and perhaps a cure-all...speaking of the day after)

i was recently reminded of how lucky i was to be able to find broccoli rabe (sometimes known as broccolini) in almost all grocery stores around me. My nonni and nonno are down south in texas visiting my parents and have been aching to make their famous broccoli rabe ever since thanksgiving. they searched all over katy, some parts of houston, with not a rabe to be found. well, nonni is just beside herself. could it be that the texans won't sell a vegetable that cannot be fried? or perhaps they aren't for bitter, but sweet, and steaky. or maybe no one knows HOW to make this superb, fast, easy, and healthy dish, and if they KNEW, they would jump on the rabe wagon. SO here is my favorite way to make some rabe, and if you live in texas or know people in texas maybe you could send it along to them, and see if they like it. perhaps we'll begin a rabe revolution deep in the heart of texas!

INGREDIENTS:

1 bunch (or two for family of four healthy eaters) of fresh broccoli rabe

1-2 bulbs (thats right bulbs) of garlic (we are Italian here we love the garlic)

2 Tbls (or more, to taste) of olive oil

1 tsp of salt (again or more or less to taste)

(you can sub the Braggs omega spray if on low salt diet)

1 tsp of fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)

Wash Rabe and cut off ends (about inch and 1/2)

Combine olive oil and garlic and salt and pepper in saute dish on med heat

Add freshly washed rabe, allow some water to be on them so when you cover pan it steams the rabe in the pan as well as saute.

When soft to touch, its done!

Plate and squeeze lemon and add some red pepper flakes for added flavor.

mmmmenjoy!

*You can add other veggies or onion or whatever you want to add flavor, but remember that the broccoli rabe has a very bitter strong flavor already so allow it to be the main flavor of the dish.