Well, I did it!
I tackled the freakishly expensive fennel!
And get this. $8.50 of fennel only made enough to serve as a side for two people. That’s right! I figured we’d be eating fennel for days, but the three large bulbs I purchased are now resting in our bellies. That was one expensive side!
I prepared the fennel by loosely following instructions I saw in Clean Eating magazine.
First, I brought a pot of water to a boil. As the water was heating up, I chopped off the long, green stalks and the base of the bulbs. After quartering the bulbs, I tossed them into the boiling water for five minutes.
I then removed the fennel with a slotted spoon, placing it onto a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. After drizzling olive oil over the fennel and seasoning it with salt and pepper, I roasted it at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, flipping it halfway through.
While the fennel was roasting, I cooked a salmon filet on the stovetop to serve alongside the veggie.
The fennel was delicious and I’m really hoping I can find it for cheaper than what I paid for it at Whole Foods in the future!
Other highlights from the evening included a cup of Liberte coconut yogurt that I ate while prepping dinner.
This yogurt was more like dessert in a cup. With 17 grams of fat (11 of them saturated), I’m not sure how healthy it is, but it is pretty darn tasty!
And now for the number one highlight of my entire day…
BABE!!!
Ryan and I stopped by Big Lots (don’t judge) after work today to pick up some toilet paper (it’s really cheap there!) and as we were heading to the check out counter, Ryan glimpsed in the $5 movie bin and saw it… Babe! You know we bought it on the spot.
I mean who doesn’t love talking animals? I am seriously in love with this 1995 classic.
That’ll do pig. That’ll do.
I’m off to play this song from Babe for the 10th time tonight because Sadie seems to love it just as much as I do… Especially when I dance to it with her and sing it in my chipmunk voice.
“If I had words to make a day for you,
I’d sing you the morning golden and true…”
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It’s a good thing you loved the fennel. That would have been an expensive mistake. 😉
Julie – I get fennel way cheaper at Publix. Its with the cabbage and bok choy.
Fennel is so expensive! I don’t know if I would be willing to pay that much to try it. I love Babe! Such a good movie! 🙂
I absolutely LOVE Babe! I’m not gonna lie — I probably have watched it close to 20 times. No shame here 🙂
The fennel looks interesting – I’ll have to try it! I noticed that your rarely eat many carbs with dinner (unless you’re eating pasta). Do you do this on purpose? Is it better to have less carbs with dinner? Thanks Julie!
hi heather! it’s really not intentional. i love carbs, but am not a huge fan of rice and like to eat pasta as a main dish, so ryan and i often eat veggies & protein for dinner unless we’re eating ravioli or pasta… mainly b/c i’m too lazy to cook up a potato or rice or something to go along with it. also, after dinner i’ll often eat something w/ more carbs… like fruit, toast w/ peanut butter or a small bag of popcorn as my evening snack.
I am now singing that song from babe at work…. lol One of my favorite movies 🙂
oh my goodness gracious. that babe song just put the biggest smile on my face. 🙂 I needed that.. thanks, Julie! 🙂
P.S. I LOVED Babe growing up. I say “that’ll do, Pig… that’ll do.” to Chloe allll the time. 😉 cause she’s a piggy. and more nuts over food than I am.
..if that’s possible.
Hi! Just thought I’d let you know not to feel too guilty about the high fat yogurt. Our brains and hormones need fat (even saturated) and it’s a lot better coming from coconut yogurt than some Mcdonalds! 🙂 Plus, most low fat yogurt is processed which I find interesting.
don’t worry – i definitely didn’t feel guilty about it… i’m just saying it’s more of a dessert than a healthy snack b/c the #2 ingredient was cream & it had a lot of sugar. it was definitely delicious!
To use fennel more economically since you only need one bulb, try this recipe (I love making it with turkey sausage):
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fennel-and-sausage-risotto.
The fennel stays crunchy and gives the whole dish that nice fennel-y taste.
I love Big Lots! No judgement from me. They have the best prices and lots of name brands. No shame in shopping for bargains especially if it is Babe. Just wish one were closer to where I live!
You know I’m probably the only person in the world who hasn’t watched Babe. Sad I know!
Liberte is my absolute favourite yogurt!
I usually buy plain and favour it myself! Sooooooo yummy!
Why would anyone judge about Big Lots? Basic needs for a cheap price, I’m there!
Okay, everyone is going to hate me now, but I HATE talking animal movies. I don’t even really know why, they just rub me the wrong way. Even as a kid I really hated them. If there are live action animals that “talk” my mom knew not even to ask if I wanted to see it.
In my family, fennel is something that we eat raw at the end of the meal. I think the idea is that it aids digestion. Or, we’re just weird Italians that think it does 🙂
Funny – I JUST noticed Liberte yogurt in Publix last night (before I read your post), looked at the ingredients/nutritional info on the back and then put it back. I can see where this may be a good option for nights when I crave ice cream or a “cheat treat” but definitely not for every day. I’m happy to sticking with my faithful Fage and Chobani greek yogurt! 🙂
AH I love Babe! I think it’s OnDemand on HBO right now if anyone has that!
I saw it in theaters as a kid and I’ll always remember right when Babe was about to walk into the slaughtering room, my little brother, probably around 5 at the time, exclaimed “Don’t go in Babe!” The whole theater burst into laughter
um. I LOVE BABE! My favorite part is when he sings “Jingle Bells.” LA LA LA – LA LA LA – LA LA LA LA LA. We talk to our dog when she does something good and say “That’ll do, dog.”
Hey Julie!
While shopping at Trader Joe’s today I came across fresh fennel for under $3.00. I don’t know if you have a store near you, but at least it gives you hope that you will be able to enjoy fennel again without spending so much!!
Whole Foods is amazing, yet such a money suck! I saw fennel today at my Safeway, by the mushrooms/eggplants/bok choy/herbs section (if that makes any sense!). I live in Canada but I would imagine that US Safeway’s would have them as well, so I’m gonna take a guess and say that any grocery store should stock it.
LOL!!!!! Love babe!! Infact.. pretty much all kids disney movies are amazing..