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Fennel. by Kid. on 2003-11-25 15:28:22

Funny taste, hasn't it? Don't know if I like it or not....I'm not sure.

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Re: Fennel. by tommie on 2003-11-25 20:20:55  |  Reply to this
  I like Italian sausage, and fennel helps give it its distinctive taste. It reminds me of the taste of licorice, which I also like. Do you like licorice, Kid?
Re: Re: Fennel. by Kid on 2003-11-25 23:45:09  |  Reply to this
  Yeah! I love licquorice - really love it. Soft liquorice, preferably but I've been known to chew liquorice roots too. (Note the American/English difference in the spelling of Licorice/Liquorice/Reglisse)
Re: Re: Re: Fennel. by Kid on 2003-11-25 23:45:35  |  Reply to this
  And the superfluous 'c' in the word in my first writing of it.
Re: Re: Re: Fennel. by tommie on 2003-11-26 07:08:14  |  Reply to this
  Licorice root?! I thought it came from anise seed. Maybe the difference in our spelling comes from different varients in our countries... ours has one flavor and yours has a different flavour!
Re: Fennel. by Amelia on 2003-11-26 07:06:31  |  Reply to this
  Well fennel isn't really in season now. Come March it will be tender and naturally fresh. Try it in a salad with golden apples and shredded carrots, dressed with honey and yogurt. Yum!
Re: Fennel. by Wash! on 2003-11-26 10:43:27  |  Reply to this
  Fill me in here, people! I'm down with the different spellings of licorice, flavour et al. but oh-what-the-hell-is fennel?? Am i too uncutlured, or is it an american thang?
Re: Re: Fennel. by Kid on 2003-11-26 11:01:44  |  Reply to this
  Fennel was the name of one of my sister's pet hamsters. It is also a vegetable/herb....probably more former than latter. I'm sure someone can find a link. American it is not, but it is not the most commonly used of the cookery ingredients. Ask Ronce about it, he'll know all, though he's probably not grown any because of its (relatively) infrequent use in cookery - unless it is really wanted, of course.
Re: Re: Fennel. by Amelia on 2003-12-03 13:25:14  |  Reply to this
  Fennel is a plant that grows wild in a Mediterranean climate. The seeds are dried to use as a spice all year long, most notably in Sicilian-style sausages. But the plant itself has a bulbous stalk, a pithy center, and long, feathery leaves. The whole thing is edible, and resemebles celery in texture and structure, though the flavor is lighter and sweeter and, well, a bit licorice-like. It is mostly served raw, either as a crudité or in salads, but it can also be cooked in a number of ways and served hot or cold.
Re: Fennel. by d.- on 2003-11-29 15:23:50  |  Reply to this
  I have an herbal book which seems to distinguish anise FROM licorice. I'll go and check fennel too. I recently bought some "star anise" from the market -- I like the shape, AND! -- it smells lov-er-ly (a natural potpourri if you will) Ahhhh! -- licoricey, spicey smelling little stars. Find some and appease your senses!
Re: Re: Fennel. by Kid on 2003-11-29 15:45:00  |  Reply to this
  I've been after some anise seeds for ages now, I've only found one place I can get them - they've been on my Christmas list for an age.
But yes, liquorice and aniseed are different. You can tell best when you get them in their natural form - the smells illustrate (can smells illustrate? Yes...I suppose so, smells are our most powerful memory triggers) it best. The flavourings of things get it confused...I like them both.
At this junction, I don't want Wash to tell the story he will tell eventually in this section. Oh, and Wash? Our outgoing calls have been stopped or I would've called you this week. When they get back I'll give you a buzz. We didn't pay our bill. Laziness.
Re: Re: Re: Fennel. by Wash! on 2003-11-30 04:29:41  |  Reply to this
  I can't think which story you're thinking of! Oh wait, does it have anything to do with Le Bol d'Or?? Or ice hole?? I'm confused, i'll give it some thought. On a separate note, i despise both liquorice and aniseed. Rancid flavours, they are. And aniseed tends to give me a headachey sensation.

Talking of headaches, i have one now, and have pretty much an entire module to learn (not revise, learn) for an assessed test tomorrow. I really should have reead more than one of the books. Later, W!
Re: Re: Re: Fennel. by d.- on 2003-11-30 14:51:05  |  Reply to this
  searched and found > botanical.com
Re: Fennel. by Wash! on 2003-12-09 07:12:09  |  Reply to this
  I was semi watching a cooking channel on TV last week, and they were using fennel!!!! Thank you all for the descriptions. I am now down with the funky fennel, if you will.
Re: Re: Fennel. by Kid on 2003-12-09 11:56:49  |  Reply to this
  I blanched my fennel today, and found it working far better. I, too, am down with the funky fennel