Autumn up with Fennel and Butternut Squash!

The leaves have turned bright red and orange color and the fruit and veggies at the market are also reflective of the season.  I just bought some Fennel, actually I bought it for my human family.  Growing up in an Italian Family, Fennel was always presented on the dinner table along with nuts and oranges.after the meal was done.

You ask, why would one give Fennel to a dog?  You may even ask what is Fennel?

Well first of all, I consider Fennel a high class celery with a split personality!  It is crisp like a celery but has MUCH flavor.  Eaten raw, Fennel has a nice licorice flavor. Once roasted, Fennel takes on a sweet flavor.

Why give it to your pooch?  Fennel aids in the digestion process and rids the body of toxins, so why not?

Below is the recipe I created today; of course you can substitute ingredients, you can put pasta in or leave it out if your pooch is allergic to wheat; in the recipe I used brown rice pasta, so there is no wheat.  Have fun while creating your own recipes for your pooch!  You can go to my back postings to see what NOT to feed your pooch.

Autumn Casserole with Fennel:

1 lb 4% ground beef
1 bulb of fennel with tops
2 cups cubed butternut squash
ExtraVirgin Olive Oil EVOO
thyme
1 clove garlic
2 cups Kale (I buy frozen from Trader Joes)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
2 cups (uncooked) brown rice Pasta
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Cut up the fennel. Reserve the ferns.
Don't know how to cut it, look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPTZDvdKYcM

Put cut up fennel and butternut squash in a pan with parchment paper (for easy cleanup)  and coat with EVOO.  I put my oven on Convection Roast at 375 for like 20 - 25 minutes until the butternut squash is soft

Cook the meat and when half way through, put in the garlic and chopped up ferns that I asked you to reserve along with the thyme.

Meanwhile cook the frozen Kale in a microwave container around 4 - 5 minutes.  Add 1/4 cup of water to it.

After the meat and veggies are cooked, add to a food processor along with the kale and the water that you added to cook the kale.  Mix and also add the blueberries.

Cook the pasta with the most time allowed on the directions.

  Drain and toss with the coconut oil and add to the mixture that has already gone through the food processor..  I don't like to put the pasta in the food processor cause my dogs like to eat the pasta in its orginal form,  but right before serving, if the pasta is big, I do run my fork through it to cut up a bit.

When all finished, you can pre-measure all meals in sandwich bags and put in freezer along with your other meals and you can alternate what you give your dogs!