FRESH CAVATELLI/CAULIFLOWER/ALMONDS & TOASTED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Fill the large pot with salted water (at least 6 quarts water with 1 tablespoon salt), and heat to a boil.
• Grate the bread chunk on the coarse holes of a box grater into a mixing bowl; you should have about 2 cups of fluffy crumbs.
• Pour 5 tablespoons of the olive oil into the skillet, set it over medium-high heat, and scatter in the sliced garlic and peperoncino & let them sizzle for a minute or so, then dump in the bread crumbs, and stir to moisten them with the oil.
• Toast the crumbs for about 5 minutes, tossing them and shaking the pan almost continuously, until they're golden and crisp; adjust the heat so neither the bread crumbs nor the garlic gets too dark.
• Turn off the heat, and pour the toasted crumbs and garlic into the serving bowl.
• Meanwhile, start cooking the cauliflower and cavatelli.
• With the cooking water at a rolling boil, drop in the cauliflower florets, and cook them for about 3 minutes, until barely tender.
• Drop in the cavatelli, stir, and return the water quickly to a boil.
• Cook another 4 to 5 minutes, until the cauliflower is fully tender and the pasta is al dente.
• Quickly drain them (you can empty the pot into a colander) and spill the pasta and florets on top of the bread crumbs in the bowl.
• Sprinkle the almonds, parsley, and salt,over the bowl and toss everything together well, until the crumbs and almonds are evenly distributed and coat the pasta and cauliflower florets.
• Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil all over, and toss again.
• Serve immediately, right from the bowl.