Roasted Fennel

I got the idea for this recipe from Jamie Oliver’s show.  I never thought that I liked fennel before – because I don’t like licorice.  But, I thought I’d give this a try and I LOVE IT!  It's a perfect accompaniment for most meats!

 

Ingredients:

 

3 – 4 heads fennel  

1 clove garlic, finely sliced  

2 tablespoons butter

Drizzled Olive Oil  

4 oz. dry white wine

Salt & freshly ground black pepper 

 

 

Directions:

 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

 

Remove any discolored parts of the fennel, and then cut the tops, reserving the leaves.

 

I normally slice each fennel from the top to the root, into about 4 pieces – quartered.  You can slice them finer and more delicately if you like.

 

Throw all the ingredients except the reserved leaves into foil – loosely making a packet.  However, don’t completely close it - top off a piece of parchment paper, run it under cold water and scrunch it up to make it soft.  Then place it snugly over and around the fennel, on the inside of the foil packet.   This bakes and steams the fennel at the same time--basically making it really tasty!

 

Cook in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until tender.

 

Scatter with the fennel leaves before serving.

Click here for printable recipe.

Mexican Meatballs with Queso Blanco

This was another Pinterest find from the “Cooking on the Ranch” blog.  Love her blog and all of the recipes sound fantastic.  Click HERE to view Lee Ann’s blog.

 

I made the meatballs as appetizers for the Mexican themed dinner we attended a couple of weeks ago.   However, I can definitely imagine serving them for dinner - perhaps with some rice and salad. They were so flavorful and perfectly spiced – but not “hot” spicy.  Top them with the Queso Blanco – which is HEAVENLY.  It is creamy and spicy and super easy and quick to make.  I will definitely make the meatballs again – and I can think of a lot of ways to use the Queso Blanco – including eating it directly from the bowl.

 

Ingredients

 

1.5 lbs lean ground beef

1 cup bread crumbs, or panko crumbs

½ C. milk

1 egg

½ yellow onion, chopped

1 T. olive oil

2 T. chili powder

1 T. cumin

1 t. coriander

1 T. paprika

1 t. garlic powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

 

Instructions

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam.

 

Combine the meat and bread crumbs in a bowl. In a blender add the milk, egg, onion, olive oil and spices.  Whirl until well combined and the onion is minced.  Pour in the bowl.  Mix well with the meat and bread crumbs.  Once well mixed, form the meat into small meatballs. Arrange meatballs on a baking sheet and bake 15 or 20 minutes.

 

To serve, place meatballs on a serving platter and drizzle with the Queso Blanco.  (recipe below)

 

Queso Blanco

 

Ingredients

 

½ lb White American Cheese, roughly chopped into 1" pieces

2 oz. diced green chilies (Like Ortega)

1 ½ tablespoon pickled jalapeno slices, diced fine

2 tablespoons juice from the pickled jalapenos

⅓ cup milk

¼ cup water

1 teaspoon ground cumin

 

Instructions

 

Combine all ingredients in a medium size glass bowl.  Microwave for five minutes, pausing to stir after every minute. Serve hot.

 

Click here for printable recipe.