FISH & FENNEL ~~ MEDITERRANEAN PASTA

I recently returned from a brief trip to Spain and of course, I’m always on the lookout for something new and GREAT to eat. Here it is. Fennel in spaghetti, I know, sounds strange, but it is marvelous. The wild fennel around the house in Spain is at least waist high and growing thick along the lanes.


It was calling out to be used!

Please don’t be put off by the anchovies and large amount of garlic. They become so subtle during cooking, you won’t even taste them, except that they make the dish what it is….super delicious. Try it!!!!


1-1 ½ pounds fish fillets, a firm white fish
1 pound dried pasta, I used spaghetti
Large can of tomatoes, diced
5 T olive oil
1-2 onionS diced
5 garlic cloves sliced
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
Dried chili flakes to taste
1 small can anchovy fillets in olive oil, chopped
Flat leaf parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
Sea Salt and pepper
Fennel foliage for garnish

Bring a large pan of well salted water to the boil and add the pasta and cook 8-9 minutes
to al dente.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large frying pan and sauté the onion and garlic until transparent. Add the tomatoes and anchovies, fennel seeds, dried chilies, parsley, salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat

While tomato mixture is simmering, quickly brown the fish fillets in a separate skillet over hot olive oil. When they are all cooked, add to tomato mixture and gently stir.

Drain pasta and put into a large serving dish and pour the sauce on top. Garnish with fennel foliage to serve. Alternatively, serve on individual plates, placing a serving of sauce and fish onto plate, then twist a serving of pasta on top. Finish with fennel leaf.

FOR YOU FROM SPAIN.......A GIVEAWAY !!!!!!

FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE (which I have been talking about for some while) has been an all encompassing entity in my life.....almost like having a new baby. It perhaps would have come more easily if I had ever written anything before, or for that matter, ever before made a serious quilt !

I was spending a few months in Spain and never travel without a suitcase of fabric, just in case. We were living in an ancient rock house secluded in the mountains which run along the Mediterranean coast of eastern Spain....what could be more inspirational? And besides, I had time on my hands. It's fun cooking Spanish stuff, but we could only eat so much and even I need something more than cooking to occupy time!

Somewhere during that time the idea hatched to write about this place, its amazing beauty and diversity, and also some favorite recipes. And then, well yes, after all, I do own a fabric/quilting shop, perhaps it's time to make some serious quilts. I became obsessed with the whole project. As you will read in the book "I dreamt in Technicolor triangles and saw quilts every where. Day and night their patterns danced through my head---ballet, tango, foxtrot. Seth would wake up in the morning to find me cutting out fabric shapes and would retire to an empty bed at night. I couldn't stop."

I bet a lot of you can identify with this experience. So I made quilts and wrote about them and C&T Publishing miraculously agreed to publish it...... But on one condition: that all the photography was to happen in Spain. My youngest, Molly, who enjoys photography, lives in Scotland---only a 2-3 hour flight from Valencia. I purchased a good camera and twisted Molly's arm to come to Spain and take pictures.

Later, since the quilts are of intense Spanish color and warmth, the editor asked that I write a chapter on color usage and color lesson to go with each quilt. Add to the challenge! Now it's all history; but what a wonderful experience, one worth sharing, and it could not be more accurately described than , FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE.

Now on to the "For You" part...
One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of  "From Spain with Love".  Please leave a separate comment below for each method of entry and please make sure we have a valid email address to contact you.  The winner will be determined by random drawing on September, 29th. 

Ways to enter:
1.  Visit our website, http://www.jfffabrics.com/ and comment below on a favorite fabric.
2.  Visit our website, http://www.jfffabrics.com/ and join our mailing list.
3.  Blog about our giveaway and leave us a link to your post in the comment.
4.  Facebook or Tweet (or both) about our giveaway.
5.  Become a follower of our blog. 

Thanks and GOOD LUCK to everyone!

LIBERTY OF LONDON ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~LIBERTY ART FABRICS

A few years ago when we were still living in England, Cornwall to be specific, my son, Branko, and a friend were visiting from the states for the Christmas/New Year holidays. I was in heaven! We decided to go to London to celebrate the New Year, but the point is what we did on January 1……shop, of course. We were each to go our own way and later to meet up back at the hotel. I headed straight to Liberty, Liberty of London, the fabric department. That would take the day. A couple hours later, someone tapped my shoulder; I turned around and there was Branko! I asked him however in the world he managed to find me since I hadn’t mentioned where I was headed. “Mom, where else would you be in London other than in the fabrics at Liberty?” Well said.

So let’s talk about Liberty of London, one of the greatest places on earth. We all know and love the wonderful Tana lawn in tiny floral prints which forever will be the essence of Liberty for me. But this store is so much more. Here are a few comments taken from their website:



Liberty is not a name above the door, it’s Arthur Liberty’s legacy, which stands for integrity, value, quality and above all beautifully designed product. This vision and spirit continues today within the iconic Tudor building. In 1874, Arthur Liberty, having obtained a ₤ 2000 pound loan, decided to start a business of his own, believing that he could change the look of home wares and fashion. The shop opened in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objets d'art from Japan and the East. Within eighteen months Arthur Liberty had repaid the loan and acquired the second half of 218 Regent Street. As the business grew, neighboring properties were bought and added.

Through the years, Liberty has grown expanded, and has always maintained its standard of excellence. In 1975 Liberty celebrated its centenary. This was heralded by a major exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.


Today Liberty is the leading destination store in London, a wonderful emporium where the latest fashions sit alongside design classics. It is fascinating to read its history.

Now, the really exciting part for us is a new line,             “Liberty Art Fabrics”, which I feel to be an exquisite addition to the current fabric industry. It is cooperation between Liberty and Westminster Fibers. Patterns have been pulled from the Liberty archives and color guru, Kaffe Fassett has applied his genius to bring these patterns back to life with contemporary eclectic color treatment.

We have ordered heavy; these designs are superbly beautiful. There are a few already in the shop and several more are promised for imminent arrival. They are/will be offered on our website, www.jfffabrics.com as well as in the shop. You owe it to yourself to check these out! And the next time you are in London, let me know, we’ll meet in the fabric department at Liberty’s!