Easy Greens with Oricchiette

I’m shattered – 12 hours training today. Maybe the boy has prepared supper? Hahahahaha no chance! He’s practically putting himself up for adoption as a result of not being fed at a reasonable time. It’s late, I’m tired so this has to be very quick and easy.

We’ve got some early sprouting broccoli in the organic box, so that is our start.

250g Early sprouting purple broccoli

250g Orecchiette pasta

30g butter

2 cloves garlic, sliced thinly

250g crème fraiche

170g Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

I think Orecchiette means ears. It’s a small disc-like pasta. I imagine that Farfalle would be okay too. There's a cute boy at my work that Toby and I call 'Ears' because his are so cute (you can have cute ears!). He also has amazing legs and has taken to walking around the office in shorts on his way back from the gym. Bliss. Anyway.

In separate pans, get water on the boil for the pasta and the broccoli. Trim the broccoli so any tough bits don’t end up in the dish (Includethe leaves though. Nyom). This is meant to be delicate and comforting, rather than challenging. It will be impossible for the boy to keep the bad mood up after a few spoonfuls of this. It’s rich, smooth and – to invent a word – blankety!

Salt the pasta water and drop the Orecchiette in. Put the broccoli in the other pan and give it 4 minutes so it’s not too soft. Drain the pan and add the butter and garlic, and when softened add the crème fraiche and cheese. Add a spoonful or two of the pasta water to add a silkiness and thin it out a bit. Cook for a few minutes.

Check the pasta is done and drain. Chop the broccoli up to the size that will fit on a spoon and then add to the creamy sauce. Tip the pasta in. Serve in a bowl with a spoon. It’s quick and simple, yet surprisingly good. It’s very soon clear that he’s forgiven you. Ideally I’d like him to have a salad with this, but it is late so he got away with it.