Saturday, November 19, 2011

Fennel: You too can use it!

The colors, sounds and smells are energizing when strolling down the shops in the Pike Street Market in Seattle, Washington. The vegetables, which are meticulously arranged in the public market, are awaiting to be a part of your next soup. After purchasing some fruit for a snack and herbs for our big Turkey dinner next week, I commented on how beautiful the fennel was. It was only $1.99 for the bulb! After bagging up my purchase the employee handed me the bag and asked what I use fennel for. I promised her one of my favorite recipes and here it is! If you are a part of the Seattle Soup Swap, go on down to the market and purchase these fresh vegies!


Crock Pot Chicken and Vegetable Tortellini Stew (bag)
2 lbs raw chicken (brown or white), sliced in bite sizes
3 C drained, rinsed garbanzo beans
1 ½ C frozen carrots, sliced diagonally, or matchsticks
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ C fennel bulb, chopped
1 ½ C onion chopped
1½ C baby spinach leaves packed
3 T fresh basil leaves chopped
½ t ground pepper
1 48 oz. can chicken broth
1 C water (extra liquid for cooking tortellini in pot)
1 C dried tortellini

Place everything except the tortellini in the Crock Pot.
Put on low for 6-8 hours.
30 minutes before eating add the tortellini, or cook tortellini separately and add at end in soup bowls.If cooking the tortellini separately, omit the 1 C of water in the Crock Pot.
Garnish with fresh Parmesan cheese