Fennel and Sultana Bread

Fennel and Sultana Bread

I've always loved a whole grain bread that manages to be unabashedly healthy and light. This bread combines some of my favorite flavors -- the sweet, anisey zing of toasted fennel seeds; fennel itself; sultanas; and some supporting actors like lemon zest and honey. Toasted slices drizzled with honey make for a fabulous breakfast or an afternoon snack with tea.

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Caramelized Fennel, Leeks and Orange

Caramelized Fennel, Leeks and Orange

This recipe won Food52's Your Best Fennel contest. In their words, "This is one of the most interesting uses of fennel we know; we see it paired with grilled proteins or as a hearty first-course salad for spring dinner parties. The coriander sugar is an inspired touch, as is the sambuca. (But if you're working in a booze-free kitchen, don't let that stop you!)

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Rustic Shrimp Bisque

Rustic Shrimp Bisque

Do you love seafood bisques but find yourself wishing for something lighter on occasion? This cream-free bisque is a beautiful marriage of shrimp, brandy and aromatics and uses cooked rice in place of the cream. You'd never know!

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Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Chicken, Fennel, Currants and Mascarpone

Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Chicken, Fennel, Currants and Mascarpone

In the mood for pasta, I was rummaging in my fridge and saw shredded rotisserie chicken, fennel and a bit of mascarpone. Some random flash of old reminded me that I’d once seen a dish with pasta, chicken and currants. YES! So, I sauteed some garlic, fennel and currants in some olive oil, salted it well, added a healthy dash of cinnamon and some chicken, sauteed some more, deglazed with some of the white wine I was drinking and kept warm. 
In the meantime, in super-well-salted water, I cooked some whole wheat spaghetti until al dente, reserved 1/2 cup of cooking water, and then tossed the pasta, a nice knob of mascarpone and about 1/4 c cooking water into the fennel-chicken mixture. I stirred/cooked it all over low heat, adding a bit more cooking water as I went to keep it vaguely saucy, and served with freshly grated parmesan and some chopped fennel fronds on top.

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Em-i-lis’ Green Machine Salad

Em-i-lis’ Green Machine Salad

I've never been a coleslaw fan, but I do like the idea of thinly sliced veggies in a tangy, creamy dressing. The crisp, crunchy freshness of Granny Smith apples, celery and fennel is infinitely pleasing, especially when dressed with a refreshing aioli infused with celery leaves and fennel fronds. This is a great summer salad; hearty enough to be a simple lunch when paired with some great bread and/or some grilled shrimp, or a terrific start to dinner on the patio. 

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