RAPINI PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• Start by taking the rapini and removing any yellow leaves, (if they exist); Chop off the ends of the stalks about 1/2 inch to get rid of any dry tips.
• Now fill your sink with cold water and let the leaves soak in the water, moving them around, to remove any debris between them and also clean them; you will get to cook them a little later.
• Take a large pot, I use one about 16" high; Fill the pot with 3/4 water and add 2 tbsp of salt; Bring the water to a boil on your stove.
• Drain rapini from cold water and then add them to boiling water.
• You must cook them until they get soft; Continue boiling for at least 1/2 hr (until tender).
• Strain rapini from boiling water; Take rapini and try the best you can to squeeze out the water from the cooked bunch; This could take some muscle work but will be well worth it when you mix it with the other ingredients later; (Use a heavy spoon to press the cooked rapini into the strainer); Continue until most water is squeezed out; You should be able to roll the rapini into a ball now; Put rapini aside until later.
• Take your garlic head and peel all of the cloves off, (remove skins).
• Using a garlic presser, crush each clove until the entire garlic head has been processed.
• Take half of your olive oil and heat it in a large skillet.
• Sauté the pressed/crushed garlic in the hot oil until the garlic begins to brown.
• Add the rapini by breaking it into chunks, and spread it out over the surface to the garlic oil, in the skillet.
• Add the remainder of your olive oil and continue to sauté the garlic, rapini and oil until the rapini has soaked up the olive oil; (about 10 min).
• Boil the rotini pasta until it is the softness you desire, note: Add some salt to the boiling water while cooking the rotini, (pinch).
• Strain cooked rotini and place back into pan.
• Mix margarine, cayenne pepper, black pepper and romano cheese until the rotini is well coated.
• Add garlic rapini and oil from skillet into pan, over the rotini; Mix until the rotini is well coated.
• Serve with a sprinkle of grated cheese; Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat garlic in oil over medium heat in a large skillet until garlic sizzles in oil. Add the rapini, as much as you can fit in pan at a time. Turn and coat with oil as you wilt the greens. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 10 to 12 minutes to soften the bitterness of the greens.