--- title: "Meatless Friday: Mommy’s Fennel Delight" description: Erin McCole-Cupp is back with a delicious meatless entree that's short on prep time and long on flavor. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Meatless-Friday-illo-1024x512.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/08/meatless-friday-mommys-fennel-delight#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: Mommy’s Fennel Delight Nov 8, 2013 8:00:25 AM  |  by [Erin McCole Cupp](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/erin-mccole-cupp) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Meatless-Friday-illo-1024x512.jpg)   ![fennel](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fennel.jpg?width=225&name=fennel.jpg)   #### **Mommy’s Fennel Delight ** **(prep time: just over 20 minutes)** 1 c pasta shells 2 potatoes, peeled and diced 1 T each of olive oil and butter 1 fennel bulb, sliced thin (put your fennel tops in your [stock bag](http://mrsmackerelsnapperop.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/lent-2013-challenge-day-4-5-weekend-food-preparation/)) 3 carrots, sliced as thin as you can get them (I peel mine because we don’t buy organic; also, save some carrot nubs for the kids to gnaw while you cook) 1 onion, chopped 1 T minced garlic 1 T crushed dried sage leaves (more or less to taste) Sea salt & black pepper to taste 1 c leftover rice (we had instant brown rice leftover from [Vegetable Fried Rice](http://mrsmackerelsnapperop.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/lenten-challenge-2013-day-20-does-that-mean-we-are-half-way-through/)) Grated Parmesan or bleu cheese crumbles to taste Heat a large (not stock pot size, but the next size down) pot of water to boiling, add some salt, and boil pasta and potatoes 7-9 minutes or until desired tenderness. Meanwhile, heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add fennel, carrots and onion, stirring frequently. When vegetables are crisp-tender, add garlic, sage and salt, and keep stirring. Add leftover rice. When pasta/potatoes are ready to drain, spoon about 1/2 cup of the pasta/potato water into the skillet; reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Finish draining pasta/potatoes (over a sink this time) and add pasta/potatoes to skillet. Serve immediately. Top with cheeses to your liking. I’ve only recently started using the pasta water. Growing up, I’d *heard* that you’re “supposed” to use the pasta/potato water, but for what? A friend lent me a copy of *[Ginny’s Gems](http://www.setonbooks.com/viewone.php?ToView=M-FMBK-71) *recently, and there was a bit in there about thickening sauces with your pasta water. Oh, so *that’s* it! Now I know. Knowing is half the battle. What’s the other half? I don’t know. Gluten-free folks could probably just boil up more potatoes in lieu of any pasta. Vegans could take a note from [Cutting the Cheese](http://www.cuttingthecheese.blogspot.com/), who recommended to me elsewhere to try [this recipe here](http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/pasta-and-bean-soup.php) but with cannellini beans. I’m a recent convert to cannellinis, as youse all saw with [kale-stuffed sweet potatoes](http://mrsmackerelsnapperop.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/its-better-than-it-sounds/), but I’m inclined to agree that cannellinis would be great in Fennel Delight. Ahem. Mommy’s Fennel Delight. ***Copyright 2013 Erin McCole-Cupp*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F08%2Fmeatless-friday-mommys-fennel-delight%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F08%2Fmeatless-friday-mommys-fennel-delight%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F08%2Fmeatless-friday-mommys-fennel-delight%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Mommy%E2%80%99s%20Fennel%20Delight) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F08%2Fmeatless-friday-mommys-fennel-delight%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F11%2F08%2Fmeatless-friday-mommys-fennel-delight%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Erin McCole Cupp](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/ErinCupp.jpg) ### [Erin McCole Cupp](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/erin-mccole-cupp) Erin McCole Cupp, CTRC, is grateful to be recovering from the compulsive effects of developmental and betrayal trauma. She coaches, writes and speaks about mental health, family trauma, and addiction recovery. She is the author of several courses and books, including All Things New: Breaking the Cycle and Raising a Joyful Family (Our Sunday Visitor Books, 2021). ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Magic Beans Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/06/09/meatless-friday-magic-beans) [ Meatless Friday: Cheddar Thyme Gougeres Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/10/meatless-friday-cheddar-thyme-gougeres) [ Meatless Friday: Simple Saag (Spinach Curry) Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/11/11/meatless-friday-simple-saag-spinach-curry) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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