Detox - Day 22

What Are Fennel Bulbs?

I'm ready to start week 4, as I just got back from the grocery store with 7 days of food.  And, as with prior weeks, I'm trying something I've never purchased or eaten before.  Fennel.

First off, I had to get over the sticker shock as each fennel bulb was $2.49 ... and I needed 5 of them.  I'm making fennel soup tonight and I'm increasing the recipe to serve 6; or for us, a total of 3 days of soup.  I like those leftovers.

I didn't know it until I started slicing it, but fennel has a strong licorice odor and taste when it’s raw.  But once roasted, the fennel takes on a sweet savory taste with only a slight licorice aroma.  That's right up my alley, because I love licorice.  But, even if you're not a fan, like my husband, you can barely taste the licorice in this soup.

Basically, you slice the fennel and yellow onions into 1/4 inch slices.  Plus, 5 cloves of garlic.  Then roast them in the oven for about an hour.  When done, you puree the veggies with 5 cups of chicken stock.  Then add 3/4 cup heavy cream and heat on the stove.  Top with some chives and sour cream (can you believe it?) if you wish.  The result:  HEAVEN!

Breakfast - Fried eggs in butter with sauteed zucchini.  What a treat!  I especially like the way the eggs cook when you put a lid on them.  Thanks for the tip, Suzanne!

AM Snack - A cup of fruit plus one oz. Maqui Juice.

Lunch - Leftover Chipotle Pork & Salsa (from Day 20), plus a side salad.

PM Snack - String cheese.

Dinner - Caramelized Fennel Soup (pg. 173 from the Slim & Sexy book), plus sauteed shrimp.  To prepare the shrimp, I heated some EVVO in a saute pan, added the shrimp (in the shells) and sprinkled with sea salt and pepper.  The shrimp are done when they curl up.  This combination was absolutely decadent.

I topped my soup with chives, but my husband had both the chives and the sour cream.  Both ways give this savory soup the gourmet touch.  It's fun to eat fancy because you don't feel like you're eating diet food.

Beverage:  seven 8-ounce glasses of water, but I forgot to have the tea, so I fell short today.