Black Eyed Pea Salad

My favorite part of my local Whole Foods is the bulk section. Dozens and dozens of different grains, beans, nuts and lot of other delicious things. The prices are good and the selection is amazing. Every week I stock up on some new things that I store in mason jars. This week, I decided to give black eyed peas a whirl. I knew they are traditionally prepared in southern cooking, but I wanted to put a fresh and healthy spin on these.

Using the rest of my farmer's market haul, I decided to throw together a fresh and healthy salad to highlight this wonderful legume. Black eyed peas are low in calories, and high in soluble fiber, potassium, and zinc.

This salad is vitamin packed and makes for a healthy main or side dish. I dressed it with only a bit of olive oil and lemon juice so as not to overpower all the delicious fresh flavors. Fresh parsley and fennel give this a bit of a kick as well.

In addition, I had an eventful weekend! After soliciting some help on Facebook, I found a local hardware store that had all the canning equipment I was looking for! I may have gone a bit overboard...

Anyway, I used this amazing haul to make jam on Saturday! My first canning experience involved a lot of sweat, foul language, minor burns and a huge mess but I had a blast. I can't wait to keep experimenting.

Read more for the full recipe.
Read more »

Sausage, Fennel and Ricotta Pizza

Because Archer was sick last week, Craig and I decided to stay home and keep an eye on him on Saturday night. I decided to spice things up by having pizza night. We had a great time rolling dough and putting them together. I actually came up with two new pizza combinations, both of which I will put up this week. First, I did a simple chicken sausage with sliced fennel. I used mainly part skim ricotta cheese, to lower the calories, and complimented that with a sprinkle of mozzarella. I bought dough at the store and  just rolled it out to fit my pizza pan.

My favorite part of making pizza is that it only takes a few minutes to cook! I am by no means a pizza expert, but I have complied some tips along the way toward getting restaurant quality results:
1. Get your oven as hot as you can. Until I build a brick pizza oven in my dream house, I settle on getting my oven up to 500 degrees and preheating it for 20-30 minutes
2. Get your crust as even as possible. One of the challenges of homemade pizza is to get an even crust thickness. This goes a long way towards keeping it crisp. I recommend constantly flipping, flouring and rolling
3. Keep your toppings light and spread evenly. If your toppings are too heavy it will make your crust soggy. The best thin crust pizza is only lightly topped.

Full recipe after the jump!
Read more »

Braised Chicken with Kale and Beans

The week of kale continues! Today I decided to make an economical as well as healthy meal. I got some tasty chicken quarters and decided to braise them with healthy beans and kale to make a complete, one pot meal. I love to braise tougher, fattier cuts of meat, because the long cooking time and low temperature breaks down the collagen in the meat, making it unbelievably tender and flavorful. To add flavor without calories, the chicken is braised with fennel and garlic in red wine. Such simple combinations can lead to amazing flavors. When braised, fennel loses some of its bitterness and get a meaty, complex flavor. Make sure to eat this with some crusty bread because the sauce is so incredibly delicious you will want to drink it!

Read more for the full recipe!
Read more »

Roasted Green Beans with Fennel

Fennel is such a great and nutrition addition to any veggie dish. I have done a lot of things with fennel, but I've never roasted it. I decided it would be a great time to try with some tasty green beans. Simple and wholesome, this dish could not be easier to prepare. There is no excuse for not eating your veggies when they taste this good. After a crazy week of work, parties and holiday shopping, sometimes the best thing for you is some nice simple veggies.

UPDATE: My skillet lasagna made the Top 9 today!!!! Thanks to Ann for letting me know. Check it out here or click the sidebar ad.

Read more for the full recipe!
Read more »

Tomato and Fennel Salad

Craig is away on a business trip tonight so I seized the opportunity to make something with fresh tomatoes, since he hates them. I wanted to take advantage of all the tomatoes and herbs available right now and build a healthy salad with a lot of flavor courtesy of some crisp and spicy fennel. And my awesome grandma just sent me a mandolin for my birthday. I have been itching to use it. I got the most amazing paper-thin slices with it. Stay tuned for more mandolin adventures!

This is a great starter or a main course, since the chickpeas add both protein and fiber to the dish. You can also serve it with some arugula or kale if you want to add greens. I threw in some baby bok choy because I love it and had it in the fridge. The dressing is so simple, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic with some fresh parsley.

Read more for the full recipe!
Read more »

Apple Fennel Pork Chops

These pork chops are a quick and simple dinner that can be whiped up in less than 30 minutes. Lean pork is high in iron, vitamin B12 and zinc. Combined with tasty apples and crisp fennel, it is an impressive and lean dinner. Fresh sage compliments the dish and intensifies its flavors. As always, it is critical that you thoroughly cook pork. Google internal temperatures and use a meat thermometer if you want to be absolutely sure.

Read more for full recipe.
Read more »

Radish, Cucumber and Apple Salad

Radishes are members of the cruciferous vegetable family and are packed with vitamin C, calcium, potassium and folic acid. Seeing the cute bunches in the store inspired me to create a crunchy spring salad that would highlight these adorable veggies. I decided to add tart apples and crunchy cucumbers and create a simple honey mustard vinaigrette. This was a surprisingly filling salad, and next time I think I will add some grilled shrimp.

Full recipe after the jump.
Read more »

Radicchio, Pear and Fennel Salad

I made this exciting spring salad for Easter and it was a big hit. Even my veggie-phobic little brother enjoyed it. Crunchy, flavorful and packed with vitamins, it is an impressive start to any meal. The sweetness of Bosc pears compliments the spice of the fennel and the bitterness of the radicchio. You can mix this salad with any type of greens. Here I used kale because I had it on hand, but field greens, romaine or Bibb lettuce would all work well. Because the ingredients are so flavorful, I dressed it with a sprinkle of olive oil and balsamic and a lemon wedge.

Radicchio, also called chicory, is high in antioxidants and neutralizes free radicals that cause cell damage. It is also filled with fiber, iron, phosphorous and zinc. Its dark red color indicates that it is high in phytonutrients such as lycopene, quercetin and hesperidin, which regulate blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Full recipe after the jump.
Read more »

Fennel, Apple and Arugula Salad

This is a quick and tasty salad that looks and tastes great. Spicy arugula and fennel pair beautifully with a crisp apple. Use any variety you like, I used braeburn for its sweetness, but other varieties will add differently to the dish. The key to this salad is to dress it very lightly. Since the three ingredients all have strong tastes, it is important that the dressing not distract from the flavors and textures. I just whisked up a simple vinaigrette.

Full recipe after the jump.
Read more »

Kale and Fennel Salad

I had some leftover fennel and decided to create a simple salad using my favorite leafy green veggie. I got a fabulous gift today: persian lime olive oil and honey ginger balsamic vinegar. I decided to mix them to make a tangy citrus dressing for this simple salad. Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) are packed with B Vitamins, calcium, zinc and phosphorous and add crunch.

Full recipe after the jump
Read more »

Green Beans with Fennel and Almonds

This quick and nutritious side dish takes about 15 minutes total to make. Its packed with Vitamin C, fiber, folate, and B vitamins. The spicy taste of the fennel compliments the beans and the almonds add crunch. Yum!

Full recipe after the jump.
Read more »

Superfood Facts: Fennel

Fennel is a aromatic and flavorful herb that is both versatile and nutrient-dense. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean and its uses date back to the ancient Greeks who believed it gave longevity, strength and courage. In Greek mythology, Prometheus uses the stalks of fennel plants to conceal fire he stole from the gods. I just picked up some fresh fennel, so keep an eye out for some tasty recipes this weekend!

Read more below.
Read more »