What does one do with one fennel bulb?

Usually when I lament the challenges of my CSA box, it’s along the lines of “What am I going to do with all this [insert vexing vegetable here]”? But sometimes just the opposite can be problematic – what to do when you only get ONE of something? Most recipes call for a pound of this or two to three of that. But when you’re staring down one, lonely vegetable, it’s hard to figure out what to do. Sometimes my solution is to trade that odd vegetable with something else in the swap box; hoping that someone else can use my one to make two. But it’s a rare occasion when we get fennel and I wasn’t about to give that up. Solution? Thinly slice it along with a sweet onion and caramelize it. That simple combination works wonders on top of a burger, as a condiment on a steak or veggie sandwich or folded into an omlet. My next hill to climb? The pesky one-off kohlrabi...

Click here to download and print a pdf of this recipe:

Well Done Burgers Done Well

shown here topped with caramelized onions & fennel, avocado and brie

Well Done Burgers Done Well

There’s a hard core group of burger purists out there that are probably horrified at the title of this post. Well Done Burgers! Never. Burgers are to be medium (at most) if they are to be enjoyed and appreciated at all, they say. Here’s the deal: I like a medium/medium-well burger as much as the next person – if I’m at a restaurant where someone who’s experienced is doing the grilling. Too often, I’ve started off grilling with the best of intentions, only to find that the burger is either (a) undercooked and I have to throw it back on the grill or (b) overcooked and dried out. So, when I tried this recipe, I hit the jackpot.

I can’t claim that I had anything to do with this recipe – not even the catchy name. This is a Cook’s Illustrated recipe that was put to the test, tried, retried and refined until they got it right. And they did. These burgers stay moist and flavorful even when grilled to well done. And they’re so forgiving, that if you leave them on for a minute or two extra, here and there, they don’t suffer. These are my go-to entertaining burgers when I want to hang out with my guests instead of manning the grill and being overly concerned about “who gets the medium-rare burger?”...

You might be wondering, what does a burger have to do with a vegetable share box. That’s where the toppings come in. I piled this one with caramelized fennel and onions (from this week’s box) along with avocado and brie. Decadent and delicious.

Click here to download and print a pdf of this recipe:

Well Done Burgers Done Well

Veggie Burgers with Curry Mayonnaise

My husband and I played “tourists in our own city” this weekend – we stayed downtown, went to museums, strolled Michigan Avenue, woke up to an up-close and personal view of the skyline and, of course, ate. We ate a lot.

Last night we dined at a classic American steakhouse and indulged in typical steakhouse fare: shrimp cocktail, 14-ounce sirloin steaks with a side of mashed potatoes, lobster mac ’n cheese, and cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Luckily (and surprisingly), we didn’t have heart attacks on the way back to the hotel. After a night of such gluttony, I decided tonight’s dinner had to head in the opposite direction – meatless and low fat. But, that doesn’t mean we had to sacrifice taste or big flavor. If you find yourself craving a healthy, vegetarian meal to counteract a night of self-indulgence, try these Veggie Burgers with Curry Mayonnaise – you won’t miss the fat or the meat.

Click here to download and print a pdf of this recipe:

Veggie Burgers with Curry Mayonnaise