Recipe for Leslie

Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini

2 bunches broccolini, cut into bite size pieces
1 pound orecchiette pasta, or other small pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound pork sausage (I use Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage)
3 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch dried crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Cook the broccolini in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer the broccolini to a large bowl, saving the cooking water. Bring the reserved cooking water back to a boil.

Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into pieces with a spoon, until browned and juices form, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, when the reserved cooking water is boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally.
Add the broccolini to the pan with the sausage mixture and toss to coat with the juices.

Add the pasta to the skillet. Stir in the Parmesan and serve immediately.

(If you don't have broccolini in your store, you can use regular broccoli. You just have to steam it a little longer.)