Grilled Striped Sea Bass... and Online Bake Sale

I have to confess, I did not make the delicious and so flaky Striped Sea Bass...not even the hand chopped side veggies. It was delivered to me yesterday by my daughter Lora, and her mother-in-law Teresa. Such a sweet gesture. They stopped by just in time for lunch, bringing so much food, from my son-in-law's restaurant, and also my son Joe, and wife Cara brought more goodies, and cat food supplies...and why? you may ask.

Clumsy me, I sprained my ankle Friday afternoon, picking up my granddaughter from her elementary school, as I have been doing for the last two weeks, and running errands for Lora, until she recuperates and can drive. Well, that was cut short...thanks to me!

Sometimes, taking a short-cut walking,  after you have parked your car three blocks away because there wasn't any parking available near by is not the answer...especially with shoes that are not the most comfortable. I missed stepping off a curb, and literally "wiped out"...sigh...so embarrassing...and to top it off, it was in the school yard. Luckily, a friend gave her a ride home whose daughter is in the same class. In the meantime, my daughter called me on my cell phone and wanted to know why I was late...there I am on the ground...can't get up, people around me, and so much excitement...plus my phone went dead, so I could not explain what happened.

Long story...short, this is how I look now, badly sprained ankle...went to the walk in clinic with my daughter-in-law Cara. She left work early to take me...did not want to go to the ER and wait for hours. Tomorrow I have to go to the orthopedic, and probably be fitted for one of those cute orthopedic boots. In the meantime, Lora found a "walker" for me at a local thrift shop (takes after mom with thrifting) brand new, it cost $8.00. What a bargain! I cannot stand on the left foot now, at all...just hobbling around.

Linking this to: Swathi @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen  Hearth and Soul Hop #44  
                                   Home Sweet Farm , Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop

Broccoli Rabe with Mushroom Gnocchi

I know many of your anti-broccoli haters will take one look at this dish and say YUK...UGHH!...Oh, common, this is not your ordinary broccoli, and yes, it's in the same family but this is the Italian version of it. It is pungent, bitter, crunchy, and so good, healthy for you.The gnocchi is imported from Italy, and it is vacuum sealed. This particular brand is a wild mushroom one that pairs so well with the broccoli rabe. 

Having lunch at Cafe Sapori, in my neighborhood in West Palm Beach, surely encouraged me to make the same dish for dinner. I did not adapt this from any recipe, I just know the simplicity of this dish.

Broccoli Rabe with Mushroom Gnocchi


1 bunch of broccoli rabe, washed, stems cut, and chopped coarsely
3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 17. oz pkg. of gnocchi, or orecchiette
salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese


If you don't have a steamer basket (which I couldn't find, when I needed it)...In a large skillet, pour about 1/2 cup of water, and place the coarsely chopped broccoli rabe. Cover with a lid, or a large piece of aluminum foil, and on a high heat, steam for a few minutes. Drain, and rinse with cold water. In the same large skillet, saute garlic,  in the olive oil...add the crushed red pepper flakes and  the broccoli rabe. Add the salt and pepper, and combine it with the cooked gnocchi, or the orecchiette pasta. Serve immediately, and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Simple, and delicious!

Note: Please click on the link for the broccoli rabe, to further assist in explaining what it is. Also, mushroom gnocchi, is simply a pasta dish with wild mushroom added inside the dough. You can see the specs of the mushrooms, and certainly taste the goodness of the wild porcini mushroom flavor. It really balances out the flavor of the bitter broccoli rabe, or as they call it in Italian, rapini, or broccoli raab.Whichever name, or if it its all bulbs, then it would be broccolini.

Fabulous lunch a Cafe Sapori, encouraged me to go all the way with the broccoli rabe!




Beautiful beet salad with goat cheese, from Cafe Sapori

 

Related articles

• Recipe: Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi (nytimes.com)
• Gnocchi with wild mushrooms (independent.co.uk)