The broccoli rabe leaves were tied in bunches and about a foot and a half long at the grocery in Mercatale. I figured I,d make orchiette with the leaves (braised, tossed with sautéed garlic tossed w/crumbled sausage and parm reggiano) with a side of borlotti beans, caramelized onions nd rosemary, a side of sliced ruby red tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and a salad. chopped chocolate biscotti for dessert with option to dip in Vin Santo. this morning, made a fire in the stove for breakfast of scrambled eggs, thick slabs of toast and espresso with hot milk. Ladies are off to Cortona and then for lunch at the Chesnut festival in Preggio. It,s a beautiful thing where you wander from house to house and in each living room or garage, sit down to a feast of a mama,s special chestnut cakes, pastas, or soup. Hopefully they,ll make it back to me in time for class but they could just as easily fall asleep in a field of tender grass between there and here.