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There are some days it’s just too hot to turn on the oven. Lucky for us, it’s not that warm yet in Los Angeles, but this weekend will supposedly be a scorcher. We are heading into our June gloom days–drab and overcast in the mornings before the sun breaks through in the afternoon. This actually started with a bit of May gray if anyone remembers those weeks of dreary mornings last month. Regardless, summer is on its way, so we don’t need to rush it, especially if we want to continue using the oven for special meals. Oh yes, you can still use your oven in the summer if you choose the right time. Oven braising is one of the best ways to end up with something that’s going to satisfy. It utilizes moisture and heat to slowly cook your food to its most tender, delicate degree. You can cook the most succulent beef, lamb, turkey and even chicken with the simplest braising techniques. When it’s just a tad too warm to even think about slow cooking a lamb shank, try tossing in a bunch of fresh, crisp vegetables.
We both adore fennel to death, and it’s fun to find new ways to eat it. Here is a simple recipe with few ingredients but lots of flavor–lemon flavor, that is. Bright lemon slices enhance the anise tones of the fresh fennel bulbs, and it all works perfectly with each bite. The entire dish was braised in a heavy, even-heating Dutch oven provided by our friends at Bertolli. They delivered a kit including the tools necessary for a good ‘ol braised meal in celebration of the finale of their “Into the Heart of Italy Series”! The final episode concludes with a meal of beautifully braised beef. Now Bertolli wants to send you one as well, so perhaps you can try your own favorite braising recipe. This kit is valued at $125 and will include:
• A beautiful 5 1/2 quart cast iron enameled Dutch oven perfect for slow cooking
• Two Crate & Barrel bistro serving bowls and a Crate & Barrel bamboo cutting board and utensil set
• Two coupons for Bertolli Frozen Meals for a day when you’d like to have a meal ready in 10 minutes
• A Bertolli wine pairing guide should you need help deciding just which varietal to serve with your meal
This contest is only open to our U.S. readers, so apologies to our international folks. There are many ways to win. Choose one or do them all. For each entry mode, please leave an additional comment stating what you’ve done! Take your pick:
*Watch the final installment of the “Into the Heart of Italy” series below and let us know what Marisa finds out the trio is looking for according to Dario Cecchini. (By the way, Dario looks like the most fun man in all of Italy!)
*Tweet about this giveaway referencing @TheDuoDishes and @Bertolli
*Follow both @TheDuoDishes and @Bertolli on Twitter
*Like both The Duo Dishes and Bertolli on Facebook
Good luck!
Lemon Braised Fennel – Serves 4
2 large fennel bulbs, fronds removed and cut into 1/2″ slices
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 large lemon, seeds removed and sliced
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 – 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth*
Olive oil
Kosher salt
1. Mix the fennel, onions, lemon slices and garlic together in the pot over medium high heat and drizzle with a nice helping of olive oil. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until a few pieces of fennel begin to brown. Pour the 1 cup of broth over the vegetables and bring to a low boil.
2. Once boiling, turn off the heat and carefully slide the pot into an oven preheated to 350 degrees. Cook for 35-40 minutes or until the liquid reduces considerably and fennel has softened. Add more broth if necessary.
3. Sprinkle with parsley and season with salt before serving.
*For this recipe, the vegetable broth is Trader Joe’s organic vegetable broth. It has a very deep orange hue, and the broth itself is rather thick. The orange color of the fennel is attributed to the broth itself. After using this broth a second time with a batch of jasmine rice, it has been proven that the orange broth will definitely ‘dye’ your food. Although Trader Joe’s is one of the grocery stores we frequent most, we would not recommend their vegetable broth unless you’re making a soup that can benefit from a little extra color!
Click HERE for the printable recipe.
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Hi,
I already follow you both on twitter
Just tweeted about the giveaway
Liked on FB
They are looking for uncino
Nice giveaway I can’t enter – anyway good luck to your US readers
Cheers,
Gera
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chrystal & Amir, Emily Robinson. Emily Robinson said: want to win a .5 qt enameled Dutch oven and other goodies from @TheDuoDishes & @Bertolli? http://bit.ly/9fZE3D [...]
Our serious heat is about to start this weekend too, but I keep using my oven anyway! Your lemon fennel sounds fantastic. I love how sweet slow-cooked fennel becomes.
Following both @TheDuoDishes and @Bertolli on Twitter.
@ccboobooy
Like both The Duo Dishes and Bertolli on Facebook
charity s.
Hi guys =) I’m already following both you and Bertolli on Twitter =) Woothoo!
They are searching for a uchino (sp??) a stick the cowboys use to herd. great giveaway!!
Braised fennel.. yum!
Scorching heat.. arghh.
It is definitely too hot for an oven here in NYC today. Or maybe it’s just the humidity. Or both. I’m going for both.
This fennel looks delicious! Definitely worth the heat.
Gotta use the oven while you can! This sounds delicious.
I follow you both on Twitter!
Hehe could we please swap climates? It’s cold and rainy here!
I love fennel best raw. But ya know, braised in lemon and butter sure sounds irresistible. You have me sold!
That braised fennel sounds refreshing. I also like the yellow orange color. I adore fennel to death too.
I follow you on twitter.
Tweeted this giveaway!
they are looking for the stick that cowboys use – to herd the cattle, to open gates, to bridle the horses and pretty much everything one would do w/thier hand. it’s like a hand extender.
I don’t do much braising but I should. I agree it is such a great technique. I am kinda over this June gloom….makes it tough to work out in the mornings! Your Fennel recipe looks wonderful as does this giveaway. I just tweeted your giveaway
I now follow both Duo Dishes and Bertolli on Twitter.
I now Facebook ‘Like’ both Duo Dishes and Bertolli.
Thanks!
I love fennel too but don’t cook with it as much as I should. This recipe looks amazing, I am sure the lemon makes the flavors pop.
i usually eat fennel raw but this braised fennel looks delicious! i better make it while it is gloomy and enjoy the warm comfort!
Oh what a lovely fennel dish, and I am like you I adore fennel! so fragrant and I could eat your whole plate in a few minutes!
They are looking for a luncino.
I’m following TheDuoDishes and Bertolli on Twitter
I tweeted. http://twitter.com/mom2mitchshayna/status/15410198666
I follow on Twitter. @mom2mitchshayna
cool giveaway, I followed on FB. Love your new look!
I watched a few episodes last weekend, they run them in the OnDemand showings of FoodNetwork shows on Comcast.
I just followed you and BERTOLLI! (Sorry, I always want to scream their name in the angry chef tone, lol)
How fun…I want to win!
-Already following both Duo Dishes and Bertolli on Twitter
-Just fanned ya on facebook
-I think I retweeted this yesterday sometime
Pick Me! =)
I am in. Tweeted too.! GREG
Followed both The Duo Dishes and Bertillon on Twitter.
Liked both The Duo Dishes and Bertolli on FB.
Retweeted the giveaway.
They are looking for uchino (?) , the herding stick.
I so love fennel: raw, marinated or fried, or baked.
This salad looks so tasty & is easy to do too!
MMMMMMMMMMMM,…excellent & well flavoured food, my friends!
Saw the epi already (cuz I got an email from them); you know I follow and like you and Bertollin on FB and Twitter! Let’s see what else!?!??! I owe you cookies, so I just might add 3 more packs in there to twist your arm, and maybe I send you a Cuban Sandwich, too!!!
Thanks for the bright colored salad. Something I need to be eating here in ATL; it’s scorching!
Great minds do think alike!!! Love the addition of lemon to your fennel dish. And the color is so pretty.
I have never thought to braise fennel! This looks really delicious you guys!
I just RT the giveaway =) Woothoo!
This looks divine, I LOVE fennel….great recipe guys!
Love fennel, but have not tried it according to your recipe, need to remedy that soon.
Oops, I forgot to add a comment here. I’m glad you sent out a reminder on twitter. I already follow both of you on twitter and tweeted.
Yay! I tweeted AND follow both @theduodishes and @bertolli on Twitter! Come-on dutch oven, come to mama!!
I tweeted (RT) about the contest!
I am a big fan of the Duo Dishes
Hey, kids! just having you guys on my facebook page daily is award enough for me, but I’d love to win such fantastic prizes! And you know they’d come in handy in Denver.
I liked bertolli on facebook
I already like duodishes on facebook
I tweeted it just now
I already follow you on twitter and I now follow bertolli
Oh I love fennel!
Follow Duo Dishes on Twitter
I RT about the contest. I also love fennel! You guys are the best!
I follow Bertolli on Twitter
I like DuoDishes and Bertolli on Facebook!
I follow you on twitter
this recipe looks absolutely delish
Yep, just going into summer season here and there are days where it literally is too hot to cook anything! Sure looks tasty