The last couple of months have all been leading up to this week. The first draft of my next cookbook is due to my editor on Friday, just as the yearly conference for the International Association for Culinary Professionals begins. This is typically the only conference I attend each year, and it’s a chance to see friends and colleagues, as well as make new connections that will hopefully lead to more work and opportunities.
Originally founded in 1978 by a group of cooking school owners and instructors (including Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, and Anne Willan), over the last 40 years IACP has become a robust professional organization for food writers, cookbook authors, bloggers, editors, food tour guides, and others.
As part of the lead-up to the conference, I was asked by the folks at Anolon (they’re a dedicated IACP sponsor) to dream up a recipe inspired by one of the organization’s founders. I chose to look at Anne Willan’s life and work as a starting place for my dish.
I met Anne briefly at my very first IACP conference in 2012 (just before Food in Jars came out!), when she was promoting her amazing book The Cookbook Library (if you love cookbooks, you must check out this book. It covers the four centuries of cooking and recipe writing that led us to the point of culinary literacy where we are today). I remember thinking that I would be incredibly fortunate to have even half the career that she has had.
Starting with the knowledge that Anne was the founder of the La Varenne Cooking School in Paris, I knew my dish would need to be grounded in French cooking. I took a wander through her website and paged through the copy of La Varenne Pratique that I inherited from my Aunt Flora, and decided I’d make a Fennel Gruyere Gratin.
The thing I love about a gratin is that it is versatile and relatively easy (a necessity as I approach my deadline!). We think of gratins as being heavy dishes that are full of cheese, but they can actually be relatively light. I only use three ounces of cheese in this particular version. For a side that produces between six and eight servings, that’s not overly cheesy at all!
I used fennel as the primary ingredient because it brings a lot of flavor to the dish and I can almost always get really fresh, beautiful fennel at my local produce shop. However, you could apply this same technique to zucchini, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, winter squash, or various root vegetables.
I used an assortment of Anolon tools while creating this dish that you’ll see pictured throughout this post. They sent me a trio of blazingly sharp and easy-to-handle knives, a sturdy teak cutting board, and the Vesta Stoneware 9 x 13 Baker in Umber. I was particularly excited to use the Vesta baker because I’ve been on the lookout for a good, deep 9 x 13 pan. This one fits the bill perfectly.
Thanks to the folks at Anolon, I have one of these lovely Vesta Stoneware 9 x 13 Baking Pans in Umber to giveaway to one of you! Please use the widget below to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Anolon paid me to write this post and develop the recipe you see below. They sent me the baker, knives, and cutting board to feature in this post. And, they are providing the stoneware baker for giveaway. However, as always, the words and thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.
Fennel Gruyere Gratin + Anolon Vesta Baker Giveaway
Ingredients
- 2-3 fennel bulbs
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 6 tablespoons melted butter divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
- 3 ounces gruyere finely grated
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 medium lemon zested and juiced
- 1 garlic clove pressed or grated on a microplane
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C. Trim away the stem ends of the fennel. Cut the bulb into wedges. Depending on how large the bulbs are, opt for quarters, sixths, or eighths. Arrange the fennel wedges in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Combine the chicken stock and 3 tablespoons of melted butter and pour it over the fennel. Season with salt and cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake the fennel wedges for 45 to 50 minutes, until they are super tender. You should be able to poke the bit of core in each wedge with a paring knife and have the knife slide in easily.
- While the fennel cooks, make the topping. Combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and black pepper with the remaining melted butter and stir to combine. It should look like damp sand when you’re finished. If it seems too wet, add a pinch more breadcrumbs to even it out.
- Leaving the pan uncovered, return it to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the topping nicely browned and your kitchen smells delicious.
- Serve hot.
My first thing I’d bake would be a hearty baked oatmeal. We have a lot of cold, gray mornings ahead of us still and something that satisfies both the eyes and our sense of taste sounds wonderful.
I would make this, I am looking forward to your next book!
Definitely lasagna first!
I’d christen the pan with a big buffalo chicken casserole. Its one of my favorites!
Perfect size pan for enchiladas!
You know, I have a whole patch of fennel growing against the fence & the only parts I’ve ever used are the early lacy growth in salads & the seeds for teas & spice. I’ve never thought about the bulb!!!
I’ll have to try your fennel recipe – but I’ll need that lovely deep dish to make it in . . . .
I’d have to make eggplant collation!
Perfect timing – I was just looking for new fennel recipes!
The first thing to make in the baker would probably be some kind of roasted veg – maybe brussels sprouts?
I have a wonderful recipe for Herb Dinner Rolls for that size dish that I would make.
I would bake some chicken and veggies!
Toss-up between Blueberry Crisp and Roasted Chicken with grapes, herbs, and garlic!
Looks like a beautiful casserole! I’d love to try the fennel – it’s not in regular rotation here!
Veggie lasagna!
I would start with baked mac and cheese!
Most likely, it would be a lasagna. Or some roasted potatoes.
The first thing I would cook would also be enchiladas–because several other posters mentioned it and now I’m jonesing!
Eggplant lasagna!
Recipe looks great 😮
I think if I got the stoneware baker the first thing I’d make would be some version of hot dish for my Minnesotan fiancé 🙂
I’d make a nice big blueberry raspberry cobbler
I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I would make roasted brussel sprouts.
What a beautiful baker….nice and deep for lasagna but this gratin sounds yummy for a first try.
My wife loves fennel so this would probably be the first thing i would cook in it. I’ve heard of Calphalon but never Anolon. but this pan looks like it would last for a long time.
I have a sick friend – I make her a baked dish, give to her in the pan but then can’t make another until I get it back from her! This would help me create two dishes at once.
Here is another vote for enchiladas! Thanks for the chance to win.
I would make party chicken.
Can always use an extra 9×13 pan. Especially when we get hungry for stacked enchiladas. (And I am!) They also work so well as a roasting pan for a chicken.
Congrats on making to the deadline!
Yum! I love your suggestion of a Brussels sprouts gratin… I have been on an enchilada kick though… Maybe both! not at the same time though…
A deep 9×13 sounds lovely! I have some rhubarb frozen, begging to be made into a crisp, and I am always overfilling my standard sized casserole dishes when preparing crisps because I want more filling to serve each person.
I think veggie enchiladas would be great!
The first thing I would make in this baking dish would definitely be a gratin, starting with this one!
I would make stuffed poblano peppers, yum.
Yum…gratins, – Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, turnip, yum.
Most likely it would be Apple Dumplings!
a cauliflower gratin
Peach Poor Mans Pie
Looks good for lasagna.
I’d make corn casserole/corn pudding. I make it for every family gathering. As a matter of fact, I make two. One standard and one with lots of hot peppers. I’ve tried to make different dishes, but my family throws a fit if I don’t bring the corn casserole. I’m actually making it this weekend for a get-together. It would be great to have another 9 x 13 casserole dish. The ones I currently use are 2 different sizes. So one casserole ends up thicker than the other.
I have multiple recipes for that pan – some old tried and true favorites plus a stack of new to try ones. Just think of how many wonderful recipes have come out of each pan you have!
I’ve never tried fennel but it looks delicious. I wonder if my picky boys would like it. 🙂
Never had an Anolon, would love to have one and try all the yummy recipes posted by food in jars.
Simple and delicious. Can’t wait for your new cookbook!
Fennel gratin is one of my favorite things! Must make one soon…
I have one Analon cookpot and i love it. Use it whenever I can.
I’d heard of Anolon, but don’t think I’ve seen any of their stuff. It looks good!
Yum! I’m thinking shepherd’s pie would look good in that pan 🙂
I’ve been wanting enchiladas lately. Might do that.
Or eggplant lasagna.
Enchiladas!!!
A lovely fish tray recipie I made a few times
The recipe is Jamie Oliver’s
Wow, nice dish for all kinds of casseroles, gratins, roasting. Good luck at the conference.
We love to make baked penne, that would be the first. Followers by Kielbasa and potatoes. And then Chicken and stuffing casserole. So many possibilities!
Lasagma
I would bake brownies!
Thanks for a tummy looking recipe. I love the stoneware. Love it’s thin design, not too bulky looking
I would make some Grandma’s apple crisp!!
I’d maked roasted chicken on a bed of sauerkraut.
I was blessed with a case of fresh radishes so I think I would try your recipe with radishes,
Would love to try a roasted vegetable lasagna.
I would make a mushroom lasagne
Eggplant stuffed with ricotta ..thanks for the giveaway
I would make some gooey brownies or lemon bars
Comfort food! I love gratin’s, great last minute dishes when you don’t know what to cook.
Carrots!
I’d make a lasagna with the Anolon baker.
Hmm, I’d make a lovely carrot cake!
I would make a cake or some sort of chicken casserole.
Thank U 4 this giveaway opportunity
I want to try the roasted fennel. I love fennel and tried to grow it, but the bulbs never formed. I also love gruyere, so this dish will be yummy.
You may have planted anise rather than fennel. With anise, there are no bulbs, and the plant is predominantly used for its seeds.
Oh man, I would totally try this recipe if I got the baker! I’ve never tried fennel, and I’ve always wanted to. With some cheese, I’m sure I could get hubby in on it. 🙂
Bread pudding first! Then something outlandishly savory, warm and rich! Looking forward to the new bookK!!
That recipe looks great. I have a butternut squash that I have been trying to use up, this looks like a great idea. Thanks
This looks like heaven!
I would make lasagna. Thanks for the chance.
Deep dish lasagna comes to mind! You’re so right; a nice deep 9 x 13 is priceless!
Homemade mac and cheese or chicken and spinach manicotti!!
I would make this fennel gratin – sounds delicious!
This would be the perfect thing for homemade Sorrentino gnocci that I learned to make in Italy last September!
My son loves fennel and gruyere. Sounds like a winner.
I look forward to trying this recipe. Analon is new to me- good time to check out the company and their products.
Huge, beautiful chicken pot pie, a la Ina.
I have fennel in the fridge! If I also have gruyere, I’ in business!
Lemon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake!
Looks like a great pan for homemade macaroni and cheese!
I think I want to make Fennel Gratin!!
I’d make Cornbread casserole
Fingers crossed! I am going to try this dish. Have loved all of your recipes that I have tried.
That seems like a good recipe for potatoes or sweet potatoes (both of which we have in profusion from our winter CSA)
We’re going through a beans phase right now – cooked & spiced beans, bean soup, mixed beans & veggies, cold beans & whatever, chili, all of it.
My first dish would probably be roasted root vegetables because i love them so much.
I love baked pasta!
I’d make a chili cornbread casserole!
I have a recipe for portobello croque-monsieur that I’ve been wanting to try. This could be the push I need to finally do it.
Brownies!!!!!
That looks lovely! I’ve never actually eaten fennel, this may be something new to try. I try to eat something new as often as I can find something at the grocery.
I’d try this very dish.
I would try baked mostaccioli.
Maybe lasagna
I want to win this for my husband. I will let him choose what he cooks first! Thank you!
Honestly, I might just make the recipe in this blog post! Love me some fennel and gruyere.
I would try your recipe with asparagus.
That looks like it could be a vegetarian main dish if you use vegetable broth. I’m trying to be “mostly vegetarian” lately and this would be a good one to try,
I’m not sure what I’d cook first as we are just finding out (today!) that my husband needs to change his diet for at least a year. I’m excited as I think it will bring relief to a long suffering auto-immune disease, but I’m a bit overwhelmed as to how I’ll feed him. I’m going to guess that we’d use it for some type of meat and veg dinner since I think we’ll be doing a lot of those moving forward 🙂
See a good naturopathic nutritionist and get some ideas ?.. if you’re in Perth I’m happy to help ?