Another great Fennel recipe....Steak and Fennel sandwiches

Since I have talked to a few people who are wondering about some other recipes for Fennel I thought I would upload another...super easy recipe for Steak and Fennel sandwiches.

Ingredients: Fennel, Steak (whatever cut you like..I usually buy a cheaper cut since it will be in small strips), tomatoes, course ground mustard and mayo, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and ciabatta bread.

Buy enough steak for however many you are serving.

Slice thinly (I have found that keeping it cold or freezing it for about 15 minutes helps me to slice it more easily.

Slice the fennel into thin strips

In a pan add olive oil and when hot add the meat and the fennel.  Both can go in at the same time.

Add spices to taste.  I use garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.

Cook until fennel is soft and meat is cooked the way that you like.

Meanwhile, slice a loaf of ciabatta bread (then long and thin loaf works best) and toast slightly in oven or toaster.  Mix course ground mustard and a bit of mayo together and spread on the bread.  Add sliced tomatoes and the fennel and steak.

This is super easy and takes about 10 minutes to make.  Enjoy.

Sausage and Fennel Orecchiette

Here is the recipe for tonight....super easy and very yummy!  Try it and let me know what you think.

Sausage and Fennel Orecchiette

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, chopped fine
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 4 (6-ounce) pork sausage links, casings removed
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 handful walnuts, hand crushed
• 1/2bulb fennel (or more depending on your taste), thinly sliced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for seasoning

Directions

Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onion and the sausages and using a wooden spoon, break up the sausages into small pieces as you brown them. Add the fennel and bay leaves and continue to cook.

Once the sausage is golden brown, add the wine to the pan, and stir away, let the alcohol evaporate, then lower the heat and season with salt and pepper. Add the walnuts and let the sauce slowly simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions.

Add the cooked pasta to the sausage pan and toss. Add grated Parmesan, to taste. Serve immediately.

And we are off.......

Okay everyone...Just wanted to let you know that I will be posting a new recipe tonight.  I can't wait to make this simple dinner tonight using fennel and sausage.  Don't be afraid!

Fennel is a wonderful add in to so many recipes and picks up the other flavors that you use.  This is going to be an awesome pasta recipe that can be made quickly and suit a variety of tastes.

Check back tonight for the recipe and tomorrow I will talk about my easy way to create a very usable dinner menu that will save you a ton of time!

Also, please send this link to all of your friends.  Everyone can use some ideas to create a simpler life to bring their family back to the basics!

No dream comes true until you wake up and go to work

I love this Amish proverb.  It is simple.

Over the last few years life has become a series of crazy days and nights in which I feel my family and I have no time.  I am 34 and a mother of two boys and have a wonderful husband.  I should be enjoying time with my family but instead, I feel as though time slips away daily......and the clock just keeps on ticking.

I look at the simpler times (at least in my mind) of the 1940's and 1950's when families spent time together...TV was limited......and we generally spent more time caring for each other.

My thinking really started after Christmas when I saw the volcano of toys......this probably wouldn't bother me so much if I were in Hawaii!  There was just so much stuff everywhere and in everything.  Toys, processed food, junk, chaos....enough already!!!

Don't get me wrong....I am not going to talk about moving to a farm and getting rid of everything I own......I love shopping.....I love Target and I love my Starbucks Coffee (hello to everyone at my Starbucks Store)......but I want to work on bringing my family back to basics.

Join me on the journey!