Friday

Penne with broccoli rabe (recipe in the comments from May 7th, 2008)
Sauteed grape tomatoes

Hot tea
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This is our first dinner just us post-vacation and I expect you can detect a bit of recovery here. This is a very simple, light dinner. After eating extremely well for the past week, we're working to be closer to our eating norms :) Also, it's a Friday in Lent and this seems like a good dinner. This is one of those recipes we've made for so long that we don't even look at the recipe any more and so I forgot that we've started liking it better with whole wheat pasta. Oh well, next time. The overall effect is very homey and welcoming for us and the spark of the grape tomatoes is PERFECT!

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Broccoli rabe, garlic
Time: 25 minutes
Make ahead: I would do this all just before serving.

Reaction
J: "An oldie but goodie."
M: "Simple, clean flavors."

Wednesday

Penne with broccoli rabe (recipe in the comments)
Grilled bell peppers

Hot tea
Cocoa almonds
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This is a very light dinner that highlights the spicy flavor of the broccoli rabe. Many people would want to have a heavy side dish with this (bean bruscetta, sounds good), but we usually just have it on its own. It really benefits from a colorful side dish, like multi-colored peppers or sauteed or broiled tomatoes. The original recipe didn't call for the whole wheat pasta, but we like it better with whole wheat. The nutty flavor really adds something to the overall flavor.

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Broccoli rabe, garlic, peppers
Time: 25 minutes
Make ahead: Best made last minute.

Reaction
J: "This was even better than usual tonight. I wish I knew what we did."
M: "Simple, but bold."