Recipe of the Month:  

 Fennel Salad based on a recipe by Chatelaine

With its crisp bite and mild licorice flavour, fennel - an Italian staple - adds sophistication to our simple salad.

Ingredients  \

·                 1 shallot, minced
·                 1 garlic clove, minced
·                 2 tsp (10 mL) granulated sugar ( I used Panela)
·                 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
·                 3 tbsp (45 mL) balsamic or red wine vinegar
·                 1/4 cup (50 mL) olive oil
·                 1 fennel bulb or 2 large celery stalks

·                 1 small head frisée - which is a type of chicory that has exploded onto gourmet plates. The exotic plant resembles a lettuce gone horribly awry, with a pale green explosion of frizzy leaves that adds a frisky note to green salads.  Some consumers adore the bitter, woody green.)

·                 1 head leaf lettuce

·                 1/2 cup (125 mL) toasted almonds

Place shallot, garlic, sugar, salt, vinegar and oil in a small jar with a tightly fitting lid. Seal well and shake vigorously to mix. Use right away or refrigerate up to 5 days.

Trim green fronds from fennel top and remove core. Discard. Place bulb on a cutting board. Thinly slice. (If using celery, thinly slice.) Tear frisée and lettuce into big pieces. Place in a large salad bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with half the dressing. Taste and add more dressing, if needed. Sprinkle with nuts.

Wine of the Month: Chenin Blanc

Made from a versatile grape from France’s Loire Valley, also grown with much success in South Africa and California. This white wine can range from dry to very sweet depending on the time of harvest, producing flavors that vary from apple, melon, lime and pear with hints of vanilla and honey. The best Chenin Blanc offers high acidity combined with a touch of viscosity.

Ideal food pairings include: salads, rice dishes, sushi, vegetarian dishes, white meats, white fish, shrimp and crab.  There is a Chenin Blanc in one of the Daze© Collection fruit wines and  at Art of Brewing and Winemaking we have a popular crisp Chenin Blanc from South Africa.