Oh for the love of FENNEL!

Fennel is one of my lost loves! This healthy crunchy and slightly sweet vegetable is at its best from autumn to early spring. Fennel is composed of a white or pale green bulb and belongs to the Umbellifereae family and is therefore closely related to parsley, carrots, dill and coriander. This vegetable is often times used in Italian cooking.

For this post I made Baked Fennel with Parmesan & Thyme as a side to Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe.

How to make the Baked Fennel with Parmesan and Thyme:
3 fennel bulbs, trimmed and split lengthwise
1 Tablespoon unsalted buyer, room temperature, plus more for dish
Course salt and group pepper
1/3 bhp grated Parmesan Cheese
4 springs thyme

1. Preheat over to 450'F. Bing a medium pot of water to a boil, and cook fennel until tender, about 15 minted. Transfer fennel, cut side down, to paper tales and let drain 5 minted.

2. Place fennel, cut side up, in a buttered 8-inch square baking dish and brush with 1 tablespoon butter. season with salt and pepper and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan and thyme. Bake until cheese is gold brown, about 20 minutes. Serve Warm. Serves 6.

How to make Orecchiette with Chicken sausage ad Broccoli Rabe:
Couse slat and Pepper
2 bunch of broccoli rabe
8 ounce orecchiette or other short pasta shapes
2 precooked italian chicken or turkey sausages (6 ounces total), cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Bring a large pot of waster to a boil; at salt. Blanch broccoli rabe until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a wire skimmer or small sieve, transfer to a colander and let drain. Return water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dents according to package instructions. Drain.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage; cook, without turning slices, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add broccoli rage, vinegar, and garlic. Cook until broccoli rage is tender, scraping up browned bits in skillet, 2 to 3 minutes. Add Past and oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Serve immediately.

This meal has great spice and flavor! You will want to make it more then once... I hope you enjoy.
-Jasin