Fennel Orange Syrup Food

FENNEL-ORANGE SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine sugar, orange juice, fennel seeds, star anise, and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring until sugar is dissolved (if it begins to boil, reduce heat -- boiling will make the syrup cloudy). Remove from heat; stir in orange zest. Let steep 1 hour.
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large liquid-measuring cup; discard solids. Refrigerate until completely cool, 1 hour. Pour into gift bottles, adding orange peel, if desired. Syrup can be stored in bottles, refrigerated, up to 1 month.

ORANGE FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the fronds from the fennel bulbs and reserve some of the feathery leaves for later. Cut each fennel bulb in half and remove the cores with a sharp knife.
• Fit a food processor with the thinnest slicing blade. Cut the fennel bulbs into wedges and place horizontally into the feed tube. Process in batches. Peel each orange, remove the pith with a knife, and slice. Set aside.
• For the dressing: Whisk together the oil, juice, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper in a small bowl. Place the fennel slices, oranges slices and arugula in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss together. Sprinkle with salt and add some fennel fronds for decoration.

FENNEL SEED AND ORANGE PEEL BREAD

Steps:

• Pour scalded milk over honey, maple syrup, and salt in a large bowl. Let cool to lukewarm, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Soften yeast in warm water in a bowl until frothy, about 5 minutes. Combine with milk mixture. Beat in 2 cups flour, orange zest, and fennel seeds using an electric mixer. Blend in butter. Stir in 5 cups flour to make a soft dough.
• Sprinkle last 1/2 cup flour on a board; turn dough onto floured board and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl; turn dough over to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape loaves. Place in 2 lightly greased bread pans. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush tops of loaves with egg white.
• Bake loaves in the preheated oven until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

FENNEL ORANGE BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with a sheet of foil, then lightly oil foil. Cook sugar in a dry 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until sugar is melted into a deep golden caramel. Immediately remove from heat and stir in fennel seeds and zest, then quickly pour onto baking sheet, spreading with back of spoon before syrup hardens.
• Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then break into pieces and pulse in a food processor until finely ground.

FENNEL, ORANGE AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Remove the tough outer leaves of the fennel, cut off the tops and discard; cut each bulb in half and cut out the cores (and discard them too).
• Lay each fennel half in turn on cutting board (cut, flat side down) and slice as thinly as possible; transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Slice one orange in half (horizontally) and juice one of the halves, setting juice aside.
• Slice the remaining 1 1/2 oranges horizontally; remove the peel from each slice, then separate the individual sections (you should end up with thin triangles) which then are added to the fennel slices.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, reserved orange juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Pour over the fennel and oranges and mix well; allow to marinate at least 30 minutes and preferably one hour in the refrigerator.
• Just before serving, sprinkle the walnut pieces over the salad and mix well.

FENNEL ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• Toss all ingredients in a large bowl; cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Serve cold or at room temperature.
• How to segment an orange (copy and paste in your browser window - http://www.weightwatchers.ca/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=37881.

FENNEL SALAD WITH ORANGE-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first seven ingredients. Gradually whisk in oil until blended., In a large bowl, combine salad greens, fennel and oranges. Divide salad green mixture among eight plates. Sprinkle with pistachios; drizzle with dressing.

FENNEL SOUP WITH ORANGE CRèME FRAîCHE AND CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
• Wash leek , then cook with garlic, fennel seeds, and 1 teaspoon salt in 3 tablespoons oil in a heavy medium pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Add potato, fennel, and water to leek mixture and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Toss bread cubes with remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a shallow baking pan. Bake, stirring once or twice, until crisp and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Return to pot and season with salt and pepper.
• Chop 1 tablespoon fennel fronds and whisk together with crème fraîche and zest.
• Serve soup with orange crème fraîche and croutons.

SPICED ORANGE APERITIF

Steps:

• Combine syrup, vodka, and orange and lemon juices. Pour over crushed ice, and serve with an orange slice.