About 1 pound kale, washed, stems and any thick ribs cut away and discarded
2 large garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ pound of bow-tie pasta or another fun shape, like fusilli spirals
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Begin boiling the water for pasta. Cut the kale crosswise into 1 ½” strips. Heat a large heavy skillet and cook garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil over moderate heat, stirring, until garlic is golden. Add the kale and cook it, stirring for 1 minute, or until it is a brighter green. Add ½ cup of water and steam the kale, covered, over moderately high heat for 8 minutes, or until it is wilted and just tender.

While the kale is steaming, cook the pasta. Before draining the pasta, ladle out ¼ cup of the water and add it to the kale mixture. Drain the pasta and add it to the kale mixture. Heat the mixture over moderate heat, stirring until it is well combined and heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with lots of grated Parmesan.

NOTE: The consensus is that this recipe is even better with less pasta and MORE KALE!