A refreshing lemonade to welcome fall

Fennelade is the perfect drink when fall is here but the heat hasn't left

Friends, yesterday was the first full day of autumn, but at least in DC, the temperature hasn’t dropped much. If you live somewhere warm, maybe you are starting to hope for the first few cool mornings, an afternoon that you leave the windows open, an evening where you can have a pot of stew on the stove to warm the kitchen.

But until we make it there, we might need a little something to keep us refreshed! Here’s a super easy recipe for a drink that’s perfect for late summer, using an ingredient that’s just beginning to come into its own right now: fennel. I know fennel can be controversial because of its anise flavor, but I think more and more of you should give it a try before you tell me you don’t like it. Especially now, when the farmers markets should have really tender, young fennel heads, you might be surprised about how sweet and delicate the flavor is.

Fennelade is bright green, sweet-tart with beautiful anise flavor, and really, really good (maybe even better with a little gin or a Pernod, if you like herbal flavors!). If you want it sweeter or tarter, feel free to change the proportions, and if you want even more fennel (or the fennel you find isn’t particularly strong), add it!

And if you already like fennel, make sure to buy a little extra and make this fennel soup—if the weather is still hot where you are, chill it for a couple of hours before serving it.

Okay people…introducing Fennelade!

Fennelade

Serves 4