How to Make Rapini
She tried to take pictures of the greens she said was growing everywhere, but nothing came out, so here is a picture of the house my Grandmother lived in when she was a little girl. 
I had to ask my sister, "How do they cook it?" And she said, "Just like we do."We have been eating it all of our lives! It is delicious, easy, versatile, and really good for you. How many things can you say that about! My goodness, there were times when I was a kid, when my mother would make steak, potatoes, and rapini, and all I wanted was the greens. And that is quite a statement because I love steak. Just putting those delicious greens between two slices of fresh Italian Bread, and who needs anything else! if you haven't guessed, this is one of my all time favorite foods. And as soon as I find some seeds, I am planting my own. Fortunately, you can find it in most supermarkets. By the way, it is a cousin to broccoli. It is sometimes called Broccoli-Rabe or Broccoli Raab. I hope you like it.
It's been brought to my attention that some people cannot find Rapini where they live. If you like to garden, I found this company - Parkseed - and they do sell seeds for Rapini. Frankly, I think that is a big deal, because whenever I go into any garden store, I cannot find the seeds. If you can't find Rapini Seeds where you live, click here. Ingredients1 Bunch Rapini3-4 cloves Chopped Garlic
How to Buy and Prepare Fresh Garlic
Hot Red Pepper Flakes (or fresh hot peppers) Salt and Pepper Note: When you buy the greens, make sure the leaves are green, not yellow. Also, they should feel crisp. Do not buy them if they are limp. 
MethodCut the stalks and rinse under cold water. 
Take the cleaned greens and steam/boil with water. Make sure you turn them over, to make sure all pieces get wet. You will notice the greens will shrink. Drain the water. Remove to a bowl. Please note: this is an optional step. I like to do this because I think it removes any bitterness and softens the greens. If you want to, you can skip this step, and saute right away. 
In the same pot, pour Olive Oil, put heat on medium. Add chopped garlic, salt and pepper to taste, and red pepper flakes to taste. 
Stir. After 3 or 4 minutes, add the greens. Saute. Serve when soft. 
If you want to make this a main course, try it with macaroni. 
Do you have a question or a suggestion regarding Rapini?
There are times when you, my visitors have questions about making this dish, so I thought it would be helpful to create a question and answers section. I would also like to hear your suggestions. How are you serving this dish? Alone, or over pasta. In a sandwich? Are you modifying the recipe? Do you want to share it?
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