Mussels with Smoky Ham and Vidalia Onions

Ingredients:
4 lb mussels
1 1/2 cup stock*
1/2 cup dry vermouth
1 bunch Vidalia onions (with greens), chopped
1 head fennel, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup diced smoked ham





*ham, lobster, chicken or turkey stock would all work.

My thoughts:

My in-laws recently visited and brought some some almost mouth-puckeringly smoky ham/slab Canadian bacon. We ate it at an alarmly rapid rate but my favorite use for it was in this dish. The smoky porky flavor made for a savory, easy broth for the juicy mussels. I love buying mussels; especially on sale, these were only about $2 lb so I gluttonously bought 4 lbs and that was all we had for dinner. It is the perfect one dish meal if you actually eat the vegetables included as we do.

Pearl Mozzarella, Tomato & Fennel Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
12 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz pearl mozzarella*, drained
1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 cups cooked, small pasta


for the dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, grated
salt
pepper


Directions:
In a lidded jar or salad dressing shaker, shake together the dressing ingredients until emulsified. In a medium bowl, toss together the salad ingredients. Drizzle the dressing then toss again. Serve at room temperature.

*The container I had was labeled "pearlini". The pearls were very small.

My thoughts:

I'm trying to make the most of late summer produce and this salad was one of my easier and tastier creations. It was sort of inspired by the ubiquitous caprese salad but I added pasta and fennel to make it more of a meal. I used these super cute tiny balls of cheese but I think diced fresh mozzarella would work as well.

It is quite good and even held up a for a few days in the fridge to no ill effect. It is better at room temperature so let it sit out a few minutes before serving.

Better Than Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:
5 cups chicken or ham stock
2 cups cubed smoked ham*
1 1/2 cup frozen peas
1 cup green split peas
1 cup yellow split peas
1/4 cup diced apple (I used a Stayman Winesap)
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
1 large shallot, minced
1 small to medium bulb fennel, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon celery flakes
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried chervil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon summer savory
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon dillweed
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions:
Pick over split peas to remove any stones or stems that might be present. Place all ingredients except for the frozen peas in a 4 quart slow cooker. Stir. Cook on low 12-15 hours. If you would like thicker soup, cook uncovered on high for 30 minutes to thicken. Stir in the frozen peas during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

*If you have a minute, saute the ham cubes in a nonstick skillet until just starting to brown. This helps seal in the flavor but isn't strictly necessary.

My thoughts:

We get up super early so I can put this up in time for dinner** but in the past, I've put it in my slow cooker right before I go to bed and had it the next day for lunch. I came up with this super long cooking technique because I don't have to soak the peas before making the soup but it you have more patience than I do, prep the peas according to the package instructions and then the soup will only take about 8 hours or so in the slow cooker. The copious amount of herbs and vegetables add a flavor that is a more complex than the typical pea soup and the peas added at the end lend a real pop of freshness that is always welcome in a long simmering soup. The perfect minimal work, high flavor weekday dinner for a dreary, rainy spring day.


**Especially if I had chopped and refrigerated the vegetables the night before. I've even measured the split peas and spices out and left them (covered) in the cold (not plugged in) slow cooker or in a small container overnight.

Eggplant & Fennel Calzones

Ingredients:
prepared pizza dough
2 Italian eggplants, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced
1/2 cup ricotta
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
3 tablespoons Parmesan
1 tablespoon minced basil
1 tablespoon minced oregano
salt
freshly ground black pepper


warm tomato dipping sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the eggplant slices in single layer. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until they are soft and cooked through but not browned. Allow to cool slightly. Turn the oven up to 400. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Divide the dough into 8 equal chunks for individual (about hand sized) calzones or 4 equal chunks for larger calzones. Roll each one into a 5-6 inch round. Add a single layer of fennel and then 2 (or 4) tablespoons of the cheese mixture and top with slices of eggplant in one half of each round, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Fold the dough over to form a half moon shape and pinch shut. Repeat until all are filled and pinched shut. Bake on a pizza stone or on baking sheets for about 20 minutes or until golden and hot all the way through. Serve immediately.

Refrigerate leftover calzones in an air tight container or resealable bag overnight. To reheat: allow them to sit on the counter while the oven preheats to 350. Bake until cooked through.

My thoughts:

I found some lovely Italian eggplants and a pristine bulb of fennel at, of all places, H Mart, and immediately began trying think of interesting and new ways to use the two together. I can't say that calzones leapt immediately to mind but I had ricotta and mozzarella and of course, flour and yeast so I thought I'd give it a shot. I am glad I did, it was so good! Slightly more upscale and subtle and the usual calzone.

I discovered the baking the eggplant trick when I was developing recipes for my upcoming cookbook and it really does result in a velvety texture in the final dish. The fennel stays somewhat crisp but not so crisp that when you bite into it the fennel falls out of the calzone and burns your chin.

Pomegranate Wild Rice Salad

Ingredients:
vinaigrette:
3 tablespoons pomegranate juice or PAMA
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt
pepper


salad:
2 cups cooked wild rice, cooled
1 cup thinly sliced fennel
1 cup pomegranate arils
1 shallot, very thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, very thinly sliced

Directions:
Whisk together the vinaigrette in a small bowl. Set aside. Toss together the salad ingredients. Stir in vinaigrette. Serve at room temperature.

Quick Tips: If you have one, a mandoline makes quick work of thinly slicing the vegetables. I bought this inexpensive mandoline last year and it works well.

I like to make the wild rice for this salad the day before. Refrigerate it then fluff it with a fork before adding the remaining ingredients.

My thoughts:

This is a great late autumn or winter salad. Pomegranates are at their peak and fennel is widely available. A lot of recipes call for mixing wild rice (which actually isn't rice at all but a kind of marsh grass) with long grain rice but I prefer it by itself, especially in a salad. I love how the nutty flavor and chewy texture contrasts with the juicy pomegranate and crisp vegetables. I love the burst of flavor the arils provide. While I like it as a side salad, it is hearty enough to serve as main dish.

Clam "Bake" on the Grill

Ingredients:
2 dozen cherrystone clams
1 1/2 lb shrimp
1 quart tiny redskin potatoes
4 smoked turkey sausage, cut into thirds
3 ears of corn, cut into coins
2 large onions, sliced
2 bay leaves
1 bulb fennel, sliced
2 cups of crab stock*


water
corn stalks free of silk


Directions
Line the bottom of a very large pot (we used the lobster pot we got as a wedding present) with corn stalks. Top with onions, sausage potatoes, fennel, and bay leaves. Add the stock and enough water to just clear the food. Top with a layer of corn, then shrimp then the clams. Place on a very hot grill and cook, covered, for 20-30 minutes.




Cook until the clams are fully opened.



Use slotted spoons and/or a pasta scoop to fish the food out. Serve with crusty bread, butter, and Old Bay.



*I made crab stock with the shells of leftover steamed crabs boiled with water, 2 parsnips, 2 carrots, 2 stalks celery and a few onions following the same instructions as chicken stock.

My thoughts:

While not technically a clambake, this is a fun, interactive dinner that is incredibly easy to make. A couple of years ago I read an article about clambakes that had some good tips on layering the food and although I wasn't very interested in what they put in the pot ever since I've wanted to have one in our own backyard. While I don't have a beach or seaweed or rocks, I do have a grill and it worked very well.

A local chain had Chesapeake Bay clams on sale along with some tasty saltwater shrimp (they are bright pink even prior to cooking) so it seemed fated that we'd have seafood when our delightful friend Danielle came to dinner.

I used turkey sausage which is lower in fat than most sausage (by a lot!) and thus did not make everything unappetizing greasy which some times occurs when sausage is boiled with other foods. I also cut up the corn and used tiny potatoes so they would cook quickly and be done at the same time as the clams.



I liked to put a little butter on the corn and sprinkle the shrimp with Old Bay.

Mussels with Fennel & Chorizo

Ingredients:
2 lb fresh mussels, cleaned
1/2 lb fennel, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 small onion, diced
1 cup Belgian beer
1/2 cup diced Spanish-style chorizo
1 tablespoon canola oil

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large pot with a lid. Saute the onions, fennel and chorizo until the fennel is almost tender. Add the beer and cook for another minute or so. Give it a taste and if it is too bitter, add 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar and stir. Add the mussels, cover and shake until they are all opened. Serve immediately.

My thoughts:

Mussels are so simple to make it is a wonder we don't eat them everyday. We made this at about 11:30 at night with our eyes half open and it was still delicious. The sweet fennel and the spicy, salty chorizo were a perfect combination to complement the juicy mussels. Use an empty mussel shell to liberate the mussels and eat the chorizo and fennel. Yum.


Note: Please don't steam any mussels that are open and if any do not open after steaming, don't eat them either.

Fennel & Three Bean Salad

Ingredients:
15 oz cannelloni beans
15 oz dark red kidney beans
1/4 to 1/3 lb steamed or blanched green beans
1/2 onion, sliced very thinly
1/2 fennel bulb, sliced very thinly


for the dressing:
1 (large) clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon finely chopped basil
salt
pepper


Directions:
Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients or pulse them quickly in a blender or Vita-Mix)until a emulsified dressing forms. Drizzle over the salad ingredients and toss gently. I like to allow it to sit for 1 or so hours before serving. Serve at room temperature and refrigerate any leftovers.

My thoughts:

I've been thinking about three bean salads for a while now. I read a mention of one on a nonfood blog I read and vaguely remembered my mother eating a(jarred) three-bean salad when I was a child. I sort of remember it being sweet & pickley and not liking it. I still wasn't sure about the sweet + pickled part of it but a salad made with my favorite beans was appealing. I noticed I had some fennel slowly decomposing in the fridge so on impulse I sliced it up (and my finger on my mandolin, ow) and it really was the perfect addition. Rather than going down the sweet and pickled route I made a very fresh tasting Italian-inspired vinaigrette. I think this might be my new favorite cold salad: simple, delicious and rather impressive looking.

Update: I am happy to say that the salad was just as tasty today as lunch as it was yesterday as a side dish for dinner.

Fennel Risotto

Ingredients:
5 cups chicken stock
1 fennel bulb, chopped
1 (loose) cup fennel fronds, lightly chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups Arborio rice
1/3 cup Parmesan, grated
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons sweet vermouth
1 tablespoon butter

salt
pepper



In a saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. Heat oil and butter in a large saucepan Saute the fennel, salt, pepper garlic and onion until lightly caramelized. Add the vermouth and let it cook off. Add the rice and saut� for 2-3 minutes, stirring continually. Add the broth a 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, and waiting until the liquid is absorbed before each addition. This will take about 20 minutes total. When the risotto is creamy and the rice is al dente remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan and fronds.

My thoughts:

Fennel is in season right now (on the way out, actually) and I've been seeing some prime examples with fresh, fluffy fronds in my local markets. Rather than let the fronds go to waste, I stir them in and the end for a little extra flavor, color and texture interest. This is a pretty subtle tasting risotto so even the fennel wary should like it, the anise flavor is mellowed by the saut�ing and all of the broth. Risotto is also super easy and quick to make on a weeknight especially if you (or your dining partner) are a compulsive stirrer like my husband.

Pork and Fennel Stew

Ingredients:
2 lbs of boneless pork rib, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup red wine
1/4 cup flour
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cups broth, chicken or vegetable
2 leeks, halved and sliced
2 fennel bulbs, cut into thin 1 inch strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons olive iil
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 sprig fresh thyme
salt and pepper and paprika to taste

Directions:
Season pork cubes with salt, pepper, and paprika. Put the flour in a bowl (a paper bag would work well also), add a bit of salt and pepper, and then toss the pork in the flour until it is coated. Heat the oil in a large flat-bottomed pot, add the pork, the garlic, and the fennel seeds. Brown the meat on all sides. Add the fennel and leeks. Cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes until the vegetables have started to soften. Add the wine to the pot and stir until the wine has thickened and the flour stuck to the pan has loosened, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and the thyme and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down low and cover the pan, simmering for 45 minutes. Skim the scum off the top periodically during this time. Then add the potatoes and carrots, and cook (stirring frequently) at a medium-low heat for 1 hour or until the carrots and potatoes are tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

My thoughts:

This stew might not win any beauty contests but it doesn't have to-the taste is enough. Fennel and pork are natural companions and this stew highlights them both. My husband (who also was kind enough to both create and type up this recipe for me) made this for dinner earlier this week. The leftovers were just as good the next day.

Pork Chops with Fennel and Red Wine

Ingredients:

4 pork chops
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons whole fennel seeds
� cup flour
1/2 cup red wine (we used cabernet sauvignon)
� chicken stock
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper (to taste)

Directions:

Grind fennel in a mortar and pestle to a fine powder. Rub half of the fennel on pork chop (both sides) along with salt and pepper. On a large plate, sprinkle flour, salt and pepper. Dredge pork chops in mixture. Meanwhile, combine butter and oil in a large pan, cook over medium heat until butter foams. Add garlic, saut� one minute. Brown pork chops on both sides, pour in wine and broth. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes or until tender, flipping half way though, over medium high heat. Uncover and reduce broth and wine, about 5 minutes or until thickened.