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<\/a>\nI am genuinely fortunate that I have a couple of wonderful neighbors with whom I have become actual close friends. When they needed to go away for a week, they asked if I would water their plants, even though they are aware that I am far better at cooking with things that grow in soil than I am at caring for them (I have chronic black thumb syndrome). If that isn\u2019t optimistic trust, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n
Anyway, just before they left, they generously made me the beneficiary of a sack of perishable upscale groceries that they thought might not survive until they got back. I love this. It\u2019s like opening a basket of mystery ingredients on Chopped.<\/em><\/p>\n Among other surprises, I found a fennel bulb, a few strips of Applewood smoked bacon, and fresh quail eggs. Since I have too much time on my hands (help!), I decided to see what I could make out of the trio. I thought the delicate anise flavor of the fennel would contrast perfectly with the smokiness of the bacon, and I could use both the sturdy bulb and the feathery fronds in the dish. I decided to slice the bulb horizontally into planks and roast them because I could coax a bit of sweet caramelization out of them and roasted veggies always work. I butter-poached the quail eggs and set them on top of the fennel rounds, topped them with crumbled crispy bacon, added a few fennel fronds for garnish and a hint as to what lay beneath \u2013 and Bob\u2019s your uncle, here\u2019s the result: a seriously tasty treat made from components I likely would never have purchased for myself.<\/p>\n I truly like this couple a lot. But I wouldn\u2019t hate it if they\u2019d go away more often. \ud83d\ude09 Probably not what you’re thinking. But read on anyway…. Continue reading
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\nStay safe, be well, and eat whatever it takes. \u2764\ufe0f
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