The entire plant is edible. Seeds are added to sausages and baked goods; the leaves are used with fish, vegetables, cheese spreads and soups. Fennel can be used in/with salads, sausage, pork, duck, fish, cabbage, cucumber, onion, herb butter, cheese spread; seeds in desserts and breads. The greens can be used almost interchangeably with dill and the seeds can be used ground in lentil soups, whole in boiling water for rice and brussels sprouts. Seeds and leaves used with fish, in soups, salads and dressings. The bulb that forms at the base of the leaves can be used raw (eg. sliced or grated in a salad) or cooked as a vegetable. Delicious roasted whole. To use the Fennel bulb, slice the white part down the middle and remove the core and any really tough outer leaves. Wash carefully because sometimes dirt sifts down between the layers. The delicate flavour of the bulb works well with all kinds of vegges. Try it in a potato gratin. While common fennel will produce bulbs, they are generally of inferior quality. The bulbs you buy at the supermarket are usually those of Florence Fennel, which is grown specifically for the bulb. Common fennel is botanically classified as a perennial. Florence Fennel is classified as an annual. Use fennel seeds instead of poppy or sesame seeds on bread. Boil sliced fennel in salted water until just tender, coat in egg and breadcrumbs and fry in plenty of hot oil. Sprinkle with salt if desired when cooked, and serve immediately. Chopped fennel leaves go well with seafood, cheeses and vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, celery, zucchini, cucumber, leek, spinach or onions. Add a few seeds to dried figs, apples, pears, plums or quinces. Add some raw, sliced fennel to fish dishes. Fennel flowers have a mild, liquorice flavour and a sweet aroma. Serve with fish, creamy sauces, potatoes and salads. Fennel also has medicinal uses. Excellent digestive, suitable for babies in tiny doses. Also used to treat respiratory congestion, conjunctivitis, styes, diarrhoea, cystitis and other urinary tract infections, to eliminate hookworms, to increase flow of breast milk, as a soothing eyewash and the chewed seeds will freshen the breath. It is also used to reduce appetite in slimming regimes. Helpful for cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. May improve the libido in both males and females. Fennel oil can be rubbed over painful joints to relieve rheumatism and may be added to gargles for hoarseness and sore throat and cough. Warning: High doses of fennel may cause muscular spasms and hallucinations. This is particularly true if the oil is used. Use seeds in moderation and avoid the seeds if you have a history of allergies or skin sensitivities. Because of its hormonal action, it is best avoided by pregnant women, or those with oestrogen-dependent cancer. Best avoided by people with a history of alcoholism, hepatitis or liver disease. Avoid fennel if you have been advised not to take birth control pills. Do not use essential oil undiluted on skin, if pregnant, or if suffering from epilepsy. Occasionally, post-menopausal women might have some menstrual flow after taking fennel regularly. If this occurs, report it to your doctor.

Here's a recipe I found this morning on the Food & Drink website. SLOW-BARBECUED CARIBBEAN PORK EARLY SUMMER 2007 By: Jennifer MacKenzie Braised to moist tenderness with Island seasonings, pork shoulder roast is not only economical, it's robust with flavour. If using a gas barbecue, more than 1 burner is essential to cook with indirect heat. If your barbecue doesn't have a built-in thermometer, place an oven thermometer on the unlit side beside the roast to be sure the temperature is maintained. The oven version is just as tasty and easy. Cut roast into thin slices and serve on roti, tortillas or buns and top with fresh, colourful Mango Salsa and Chili Potato Wedges (recipes follow). 4 lb (2 kg) boneless pork shoulder blade (butt) roast, tied 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp (25 mL) minced fresh ginger root 2 tbsp (25 mL) packed brown sugar 1 tbsp (15 mL) minced fresh hot pepper 1 tbsp (15 mL) dried thyme 1 tsp (5 mL) ground allspice 1 tsp (5 mL) salt ½ tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon 1 cup (250 mL) coconut milk ¼ cup (50 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice 1. Place roast in a large foil pan (for barbecue) or a roasting pan (for oven). Combine garlic, ginger, sugar, hot pepper, thyme, allspice, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir in 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the coconut milk. Spread all over roast. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, preheat the barbecue to high or oven to 350°F (180°C). 3. Combine remaining coconut milk and lime juice and pour around roast in pan. Cover entire pan with foil, sealing tightly around pan but not touching roast. 4. If barbecuing, turn 1 side of barbecue off and reduce other burner(s) to medium-high or temperature required to maintain 350°F (180°C). Place pan on unlit side of barbecue or place in oven. Grill or roast for 2 to ½ hours. 5. Uncover and baste roast with pan juices. Grill or roast, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes longer, basting twice more, until fork tender and a meat thermometer reads 170°F (75°C). Tent with foil and let stand for 15 minutes before carving. 6. Transfer roast to a cutting board, discarding pan juices. Cut off strings and cut roast into thin slices. Serve with Mango Salsa and Chili Potato Wedges. Serves 8 Mango Salsa This fresh and tangy salsa is the perfect complement to the pork. It is best made just before serving but can be covered but can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours. 2 firm ripe mangos 1 tsp (5 mL) grated lime zest 2 tbsp (25 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro 1 tsp (5 mL) minced fresh hot peppers (or to taste) ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt 1. Peel mango and cut flesh from pits. Dice flesh and place in a bowl. Add lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, hot pepper and salt. Toss gently to combine. Taste and check seasonings. Makes about 2 cups (500 mL) Chili Potato Wedges Traditional foil-packet barbecued potatoes get a boost that will liven up any barbecue meal. Ancho chili powder is increasingly available and gives a nice chili flavour without overpowering heat. If you like a smoky heat, add ¼ tsp (1 mL) chipotle pepper powder to the butter mixture. The zesty dip is easily put together as the crispy-crusted potatoes cook. 3 lbs (1.5 kg) baking potatoes (russet or Yukon gold) ¼ cup (50 mL) butter, softened 1½ tsp (7 mL) ancho or other chili powder 1 tsp (5 mL) sea salt or kosher salt ¼ tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper Dip 1 cup (250 mL) sour cream or mayonnaise 1 tsp (5 mL) grated lime zest ¼ tsp (1 mL) ancho or other chili powder 1. Preheat the barbecue to medium-high or oven to 350ºF (180ºC). 2. Scrub potatoes under running water. Pat dry and cut each lengthwise into 8 wedges. Place on a large piece of heavy-duty foil. 3. Mash butter, chili powder, salt and pepper together in a bowl. Drop in small dollops randomly over potatoes on foil. Top with another large piece of foil and seal both pieces together with a tightly crimped edge. Slide onto a baking sheet. 4. Slide packet off baking sheet onto grill or place on sheet in oven. Grill or bake for 30 minutes, gently shaking packet a few times and flipping over halfway. Carefully unseal a small section and check potatoes with a fork to ensure they are tender. If not, reseal and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer. 5. Meanwhile, make dip. Combine sour cream, lime zest and chili powder in a serving bowl. 6. Let potatoes stand for 5 minutes. Open packet and, using a lifter, remove potatoes from foil (you may have to scrape the crispy ones) and transfer to a serving platter. Serve dip on the side. Serves 8

teresa_nc7, I posted this recipe in New Recipes - August 2012 thread. If you want to read the original recipes, the links are on that thread. Yes, it is a bit tedious to toast and grind rice, but it can be done way in advance, as can juicing the limes. After reading about fish sauce on the Cook's Thesaurus, I substituted low sodium soy sauce with a squirt of anchovy paste in it. It was not difficult to make. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to grind pork in my food processor. Thai Pork Lettuce Wraps from Cooks Illustrated. Yield: 6 appetizers or 4 main courses INGREDIENTS 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), trimmed of silver skin and fat, cut into 1-inch chunks 2 1/2 Tbsp. fish sauce 1 Tbsp. white rice 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth 2 medium shallots , peeled and sliced into thin rings (about 1/2 cup) 3 Tbsp. juice from 2 limes 2 tsp. sugar 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes 3 tablespoons chopped mint leaves 3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro leaves 1 head Bibb lettuce , washed and dried, leaves separated and left whole DIRECTIONS 1. Place pork chunks on large plate in single layer. Freeze meat until firm and starting to harden around edges but still pliable, 15 to 20 minutes. 2. Place half of meat in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, 5 to six 1-second pulses. Transfer ground meat to medium bowl and repeat with remaining chunks. Stir 1 tablespoon fish sauce into ground meat and marinate, refrigerated, 15 minutes. 3. Heat rice in small skillet over medium-high heat; cook, stirring constantly, until deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to small bowl and cool 5 minutes. Grind rice with spice grinder, mini food processor, or mortar and pestle until it resembles fine meal, 10 to 30 seconds (you should have about 1 tablespoon rice powder). 4. Bring broth to simmer in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook, stirring frequently, until about half of pork is no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon rice powder over pork; continue to cook, stirring constantly, until remaining pork is no longer pink, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes longer. Transfer pork to large bowl; let cool 10 minutes. 5. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce, remaining 2 teaspoons rice powder, shallots, lime juice, sugar, red pepper flakes, mint, and cilantro to pork; toss to combine. Serve with lettuce leaves. I added a a peanut sauce from Chow Mix together (I used my immersion blender): 3/4 cup natural-style creamy peanut butter (used crunchy as directed by my Vietnamese friend) 1/3 cup water 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 1/2 medium limes) 4 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (omitted) 2 1/4 teaspoons chile-garlic paste 1 medium garlic clove, mashed to a paste 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil Here is a link that might be useful: New Recipes Review - August 2012

I always have pork loin left and my husband loves these two: Pork "Tidbits" on Garlic Bread Prepare garlic bread using your normal method. Dip slices of pork loin in Duck Sauce and then spread more on top. Bake on baking sheet at 400 for approx. 15 minutes. I always just use leftovers for this one - works great: Sweet and sour pork Ingredients: * 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin, sliced 1/2-inch thick * 1 tablespoons vegetable oil * 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks in juice * 3/4 cup water * 1/4 cup vinegar * 1 tablespoon soy sauce * 1/4 cup brown sugar * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 2 tablespoons cornstarch * 2 tablespoons water * 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion * 1 green pepper, cut in thin strips * 2 cups hot cooked rice Preparation: Directions for sweet and sour pork Cut pork slices into strips about 3 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide. Sauté pork strips in hot oil over medium heat until lightly browned; drain. Drain pineapple; reserve juice. Combine pineapple juice, 3/4 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and salt; pour over pork in skillet. Cover and simmer 1 hour, or until meat is tender. In a cup, combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water; stir until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to pork mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Add pineapple chunks, onion and green pepper. Cover and simmer sweet and sour pork for 10 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender. Serve sweet and sour pork over rice. Sweet and sour pork recipe serves 4 to 6.