Braised Chicken with Fennel, Cherry Tomatoes and Garbanzo Beans

Dinner 4.06.2013: Braised Chicken with Fennel, Cherry Tomatoes and Garbanzo Beans

Braised Chicken with Fennel, Cherry Tomatoes and Garbanzo Beans

Braised Chicken with Fennel, Cherry Tomatoes and Garbanzo Beans

Orange and Strawberry Salad

Spicy Kielbasa and Fennel Strata

Breakfast 3.30.2013: Spicy Kielbasa and Fennel Strata

Spicy Kielbasa and Fennel Strata

Spicy Kielbasa and Fennel Strata

Fennel and Cherry Tomato Linguine, Fennel and Garlic Marinated Chicken

Dinner 3.17.2013: Fennel and Cherry Tomato Linguine, Fennel and Garlic Marinated Chicken

Fennel and Cherry Tomato Linguine, Fennel and Garlic Marinated Chicken

Fennel and Turkey Sausage Penne

Dinner 10.23.2012: Fennel and Turkey Sausage Penne

Fennel and Turkey Sausage Penne

Fennel and Turkey Sausage Penne

Turkey Sausage (3/4 lb ground turkey seasoned with, kosher salt, pepper, ground fennel seed, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1/2 Tbs chili powder, 1/2 Tbs paprika) - mix ingredients with spoon so the mixture stays xxx. Cook in a non-stick pan with a little olive oil until starting to brown and cooked through.

Fennel-Marinara Sauce (olive oil, 1 small-med fennel bulb thinly sliced, kosher salt, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 cup marinara sauce, little sugar, grated parmesan cheese, chopped parsley) - in a stainless sauce pan sauté sliced fennel in a little olive oil until starting to brown. Season with a little salt. Add chicken stock and reduce about 1/4. Add marinara and gently simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add cooked turkey sausage and heat through. Season to taste with kosher salt and sugar. Sauce should not be too thick - pasta will absorb quite a bit of the liquid - add starchy pasta water if needed. Add al-dente pasta, toss, add grated parmesan, toss, serve and garnish with parmesan and chopped parsley.

Penne (8oz = 2 servings) - cooked al-dente in salted water. Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water to think sauce if needed. Strain pasta and toss with sauce.

Roasted Fennel and Cherry Tomatoes, Shrimp, Capellini

Dinner 8.19.2012: Roasted Fennel and Cherry Tomatoes, Shrimp, Capellini

Roasted Fennel and Cherry Tomatoes, Shrimp, Capellini

Roasted Fennel and Cherry Tomatoes (olive oil, fennel, kosher salt, cherry tomatoes, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, fresh chopped oregano, chicken stock) - start roasting fennel with olive oil and a little salt in ovenproof pan on stove top. Add tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, garlic and oregano, stir, roast @ 375F for 10 mins, stir, add chicken stock, roast another 10 mins or until fennel is tender. Immediately spoon sauce over al-dente capellini pasta.

Shrimp (shrimp, TJs all purpose seasoning, ground coriander, kosher salt) - marinade shrimp for at least 30 mins and sauté on a little olive oil on both sides.

Capellini - this pasta is very fragile so immediately after draining put on plates and spoon sauce over.

Roasted Fennel and Cherry Tomatoes, Shrimp, Capellini

Fennel Salad and Honey-Marinated Salmon

Dinner 5.28.2012: Fennel Salad and Honey-Marinated Salmon

Fennel Salad and Honey-Marinated Salmon.

Fennel Salad (thinly sliced fennel bulbs, thinly sliced red onion, bias-cut celery, orange section, raisins or chopped apricot, poppy seeds)

Dressing (olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, herbs de Province, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, pepper)

Honey-Marinated Salmon (honey, juice and zest from one lemon, fresh rosemary sprig) - heat honey, add remain. ingredients, let cool, strain, marinade salmon for 1 hour.

Fennel Salad with Orange Sections.

Linguine with Asiago-Fennel Chicken Sausage, Fennel, and Portobello Mushroom

Dinner 4.03.2012: Linguine with Asiago-Fennel Chicken Sausage, Fennel, and Portobello Mushroom

Asiago-Fennel Chicken Sausage, Fennel, and Portobello Mushroom

Linguine with Asiago-Fennel Chicken Sausage, Fennel, and Portobello Mushroom
For some reason the chicken sausage I used (Sagg's) really stuck to my stainless saute pan (and I do know how to use one properly ;). So, next time I will use a non-stick pan to avoid having to spend 23 minutes scrubbing.

• Brown sausage pieces; remove and set aside.
• olive oil
• chicken sausage, cut into bite-size pieces (I used Sagg's Fennel and Asiago Chicken Sausage)
• Saute fennel and mushrooms with a little salt and pepper. Add fennel seeds.
• 1 fennel bulb, cleaned and thinly sliced
• 1 portobello mushroom, sliced into bite-size pieces
• kosher salt
• pepper
• crushed fennel seeds
• Return cooked sausage and add cream. Gently simmer until thickened. Add a little starchy pasta water if needed.
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• ~ 1 cup chicken stock or starchy pasta water, as needed
• Turn off heat. Add a little grated parmesan. Add spinach and gently stir.
• grated parmesan
• 2 cups, fresh spinach leafs, coarsely chopped
• Toss with al-dente linguine. Garnish with grated parmesan and fennel fronds.
• grated parmesan
• fennel fronds, chopped

'I can't believe I'm eating Fennel' Salad

Fennel Salad with Celery, Red Onion, Pepitas and Oranges.

I know many people that don't like to taste of fennel, myself included. But, what to do when your CSA box contains fennel every week for 6 weeks? You come up with salad that makes fennel the most delicious thing you have ever tasted . . .

Citrus Fennel Salad with Mixed Greens

Citrus Fennel Salad with Celery and Walnuts.

To be honest, I am not a huge fennel fan, but this salad is to die for. I added mixed greens to tone down the fennel flavor a bit, and the orange and grapefruit slices are such a great accompaniment. A great side to this light salad would be a simply seasoned chicken breast or salmon fillet. Another easy,  inexpensive, and oh-so-delicious meal.

Basic-8 Dressing

• 2 tbs good oil olive
• 1 tbs Citrus vinegar (TJ's)
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 3 pinches real salt
• 5 turns on the black pepper mill
• 1/2 tsp whole grain Dijon mustard (TJ's) 
• 1 pinch granulated garlic
• 2 pinches ground dried fennel seeds

Salad Ingredients (2 servings)

• 2-3 leafs of red or green leaf lettuce, torn into bit-size pieces
• 2 handfuls mixed greens
• 1 fennel bulb, cleaned, halved and thinly sliced (mandolin)
• 1 large leaf mustard greens, cored and thinly sliced
• a bit of red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 small orange fillets (minola, blood, whatever you like)
• 1/2 grapefruit fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces
• sliced almonds

Make it a Meal with Chicken Breast or Salmon Fillet

• 2 chicken breasts or salmon fillets
• real salt
• fresh ground black pepper 
• ground fennel seed
• vegetable or olive oil for the pan

Wash the chicken/fish, pat dry with a paper towel and lightly season with real salt, pepper, and fennel. Fry in a non-stick pan with a little bit of oil in a non-stick pan (I like Scanpan) over medium heat.

Serve immediately and enjoy.

Citrus Fennel Salad with Mixed Greens, Mustard Greens, and Red Onion.

Citrus Fennel Salad with Celery and Red Onion