GRAPE TOMATOES WITH BASIL

I like simple food. The first time I had this side dish, in a restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome( Ristorante alla Rampa), I said to myself, I can do this. It's just grape tomatoes, with basil, olive oil, salt and pepper.

ORECCHIETTE CON BROCOLLI DI RAPE AND SAUSAGE

This has become my favorite pasta dish. I saw my favorite cook cooking this dish and wondered how the bitterness of the brocolli rabi combines with the spicy red pepper flakes. The flavor is complex and I encourage everyone to try cooking this pasta dish if one wants to experience cooking a special Italian pasta dish. The only problem would be the availability of the brocolli rabe. I am sure everyone can get the sausage and you can use any kind of pasta. I tried the farfalle (bowties), penne (quills) and rotini (spirals).

ORECCHIETTE

My favorite brand of pasta. I have tried other brands, but I saw my favorite cook uses this pasta brand.

Brocolli de rape - brand name Andy Boy

BROCOLLI RABE

This is what you need to look for in the grocery. It is supposedly grown in California ( brand name is Andy Boy). I can't understand why my friends could not find this in their neighborhood grocery.

SOFRITO

Lately, I have been cooking chicken rice and I realized that with sofrito, my yellow rice taste better than ever. You can have yellow rice anytime, with meat loaf, pork chops or even roasted chicken.

I have taken a picture of the ingredients necessary to prepare the sofrito. The good thing is, you can freeze the sofrito. Put a cup on each ziplock bags and freeze it. You only need a cup for every 4-5 cups of rice.

Extra tip, add a packet of the Sazon coriander and achiete mix for color.