momoffersmore.com - Mom Offers More serves the families of the Croton Harmon and Hendrick Hudson School Districts

Celebrating Valentine's Day with your sweetie? Skip the expensive restaurant this year. Forget fighting for reservations on one of the busiest nights of the year when restaurants are overbooked, overcrowded, understaffed and charging far more for a meal you can easily make in the comfort of your own kitchen. So how about a casual make-together dinner that can be prepared in well under an hour?

If you are a pasta lover and appreciate the slight bitterness of broccoli rabe, you're sure to love Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe. Orecchiette are round indented circles of pasta that resemble "little ears." Be sure to buy the best quality Italian sausage. Dessert? How about chocolate truffles or chocolate-dipped strawberries? A romantic cocktail will get you off to a festive start. If you haven't tried Elderflower liqueur, now's the time.

Fleur de Champagne
2 ounces St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
8 ounces Champagne (chilled)
Halved strawberries for garnish
Divide liqueur between two Champagne flutes. Top with chilled Champagne.
Garnish with strawberries and serve.

Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe .
Ingredients:
1 bunch broccoli rabe, I inch of bottom stem cut off
1 lb. orecchiette (little ears) pasta
4 T extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t crushed red paper flakes
3 links Italian sweet sausage, casings removed and broken up
3 links Italian hot sausage, casings removed and broken up
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, divided
Procedure:
In a large pot of salted boiling water, blanch the broccoli rabe for 2 minutes. Scoop out of the water and drain. Cut stalks into thirds and set aside. In the same pot of boiling water, cook orecchiette according to package directions.

While pasta is cooking, pour 2 T olive oil into a 12-inch skillet. When moderately hot, add garlic and crushed pepper flakes. Let garlic become fragrant but not colored. Add sausage and sauté until sausage is cooked through.
Drain pasta but save a cup of pasta water. Add pasta and broccoli rabe to skillet and mix with sausage. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and just enough pasta water to loosen mixture. Sprinkle with a half cup cheese and mix again. Pour a thin stream of 2 T olive oil over top. Serve additional cheese on the side. Serves 4 to 6. (Recipe can be halved for 2. Also makes a great leftover. Just reheat.)

Recipe by Phyllis Kirigin sweetpaprika.wordpress.com Phyllis is a resident of Croton-on-Hudson and is an avid cook and food blogger.  She loves all things culinary, focusing on using fresh ingredients and promoting local farmers and artisans.  She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text61570 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Photo by Phyllis Kirigin
Cocktail recipe compliments of Ted Allen