FRENCH ONION SOUP: HOW TO BE WON OVER

French Onion Soup. This is how to be won over. Or how to treat yourself like an Emperor. And your subjects will sing you praises till the next millennium…

FRENCH ONION SOUP...
FRENCH ONION SOUP…OKAY I’M HOOKED.

Shopping List

Butter: 3 T
Red Onions: 1-2 even 3 medium to large sliced
Garlic: 3-4 cloves minced
Bay Leaves: 2
Fresh Thyme: 2 sprigs
Salt & Pepper: to taste
Red Wine: 1 cup
Flour: 3 T
Beef Broth: 1 box (add another box if feeding an army or for left-overs)
Sour Dough Bread: 1 slice per bowl
Swiss Cheese or Provolone: 1 slice per slice of bread 

Preparation

First melt butter on high in crock-pot. Then add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme sprigs. Next cook until the onions are caramelized. And stir frequently, about 25 minutes.

Then add the wine and let boil, reduce heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are somewhat dry.

Next discard the bay leaves and sprig.

Then dust the onions with the flour; cook about 10 minutes.
Next add the broth and bring back to high until heated strong. Then on low for 2 hours until thick and rich

Lastly ladle the soup into oven safe bowls. Then set bowls in oven with bread and cheese on-top of soup. Next broil on high until bubbly brown.

Then turn off broil and remove from oven; carefully.

FRENCH NOTES

Onion soup is nothing fancy per-say. But it’s good slurping on a cold day! Especially in February.

In fact, the onion or Allium has long been a staple ingredient of flavor in recipes from A-Z for about 5000 years. WOW! AND, way to hang in there ONION…Its genus includes onions of all sizes and colors—even garlic. And there is a variety of them. Like dry onions, which are the most common. Each has a strong flavor like the Vidalia or Walla-Walla.

We then move to the red or Spanish onion which is mild and sweet. And also varies in size. But has that fabulous red skin, which actually looks purple.  

Next we have the babies of the family: pearl, shallots, and green. Which harvest before the bulb actually has time to mature. And naturally every onions has its own special—VERSATILITY!

So whether your choice is to roast, glaze, boil, salute, sir-fry, or pickle; the onion poses purpose. In fact, pro-inflammatory assets are distinct in all the allium family.

And of course, if your liven the Yogi life-style you’ll certainly be including a daily intake of: garlic, onion, and ginger in your diet. Because these good-fells are excellent for over-all health and recovering from sickness. Especially in February! And this powerful trio will have you loving your numbers by lowering your risk for heart disease and strokes. While also, offering a potency to all vital organs.

ONIONS:It’s a miracle food that also plays a big role in cooking.

PLEASE DON’T EAT THE DAISY’S?

SOUPING THEM IS NO PROBLEM!

SQUASH SOUP: SPLENDIDLY SWEET

SQUASH SOUP

Squash soup. Apparently its amazingly excellent. And although not a typical bar food. Perhaps someday it might be. Because no soups complete without a large piece of bread and or a cold ale. So, sit pretty and relax.

In fact, squashes are native to the Americas. So, along with some of our great growing conditions, squashes reign Queen or King. And we group them as either summer or winter.

However, if you want little to no peeling. Then try a thin-skinned summer. Because the bigger thick-skinned winters are a bit more work. And Although each seasonal type is different, both are equally tasty.

SQUASHES: ITS WHATS FOR DINNER.
Squash Soup: The original request!
HOW TO LOVE SQUASHES

1-2 Small Sweet Dumpling or/Butternut Squash: cooked
Butter: 2 T
3-5 Jalapeño Rings
Corn: 1 cup

Leek: medium washed & chopped (white part only)
1 Large Potatoes: cooked & cubed
Chicken Stock: 1 box
Cream Cheese: 1 package
3 Slices of Sour Dough Toasted

Preparation

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cut squashes in half. Scoop out the pulp and seeds: reserve some seeds for soup garnish. Place the them in a large roasting or ovenproof pan, cut side up. Add small dab of butter into cavity of each half if desired (adjust squashes to size of pan).

Pour 1/2 cups water into pan, cover with aluminum foil and bake 50 minutes or until tender. Remove the pan from oven and allow to cool completely. *Cook frozen according to directions.

*Optional-in the meantime-rinse reserved squash seeds and spread out on baking sheet. Salt and increase oven temperature to 375 degrees. Bake 8-10 minutes: cool.

When cool scoop out tender flesh from squashes. In small batches place squash in blender or food processor along with cream cheese, jalapeño rings, onion and chicken broth. Blend until smooth and place into medium stock pot/Dutch oven add any remaining chicken broth along with corn, and potatoes.

Stir well and simmer uncovered on medium low heat until heated through, about 40 min or so.

Serve each portion with a dollop of sour cream, roasted squash seeds, jalapeno rings, and bacon.

Squash Notes for squash addiction

Squashes, sweet potatoes, and yams are ideal sources of fiber. Besides being packed full of nature’s best ingredients. Like carotenoids. Which is in about a 100 edible pigment plants. And which by-the-way are excellent antioxidants. Because golden beauties like these are worth playing around with!

So, adopt a practice of trying them in their variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Begin weekly. Then tap into a new taste sensation that’s 7 for 7. In fact, know someone who refuses to try them? No problem.

Because you’ll find a great list of enjoyable soups when you follow US.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

GLAM SANDWICH

MANGO GAZPACHO: A SOUP SPICED WITH HISTORY

MAKING IT MANGO GAZPACHO

Mango Gazpacho is like touring Mexico right in your own kitchen. And who’s to say whether the Spaniards lusting for gold; indeed found more pleasure in the good food being served.

Let’s just say…they were preserving the virtues of the chef. And although the food is sometimes regal and refined. Other times a bit robust or brassy, the traditional foods of Mexico are character.Today we enjoy it like a mariachi band delighting in all the colors and contrasts.

Although the cuisine of Mexico has many influences and hundreds of years of highly advanced horticulture. It also has many important foods that we simply must staple to our diets: tomatoes, avocados, chilies, and cocoa. Ships returning home with these seeds found favor in some and yuck to others. But now all those goodies grow and find uses throughout the world in best-loved dishes.

As well as palatable and delicious.

Mango Gazpacho
Shopping List

Cucumbers: 1 peeled, seeded, and cut
Mango: peeled and cut into bite pieces
Scallions: 1 minced
Garlic: 1 clove crushed
Parsley: ¼ cup fresh minced
Cilantro: 3 T fresh minced
Basil: 1 T fresh minced
Avocado: 1 ripe
Lime Juice: 2 T
Ice Water: 1 cup
Salt: 1 T
Olive Oil: 2 T

Preparation
4 Servings

Combine cucumber, mango, garlic and scallion in large bowl.
Then in a separate bowl, mash avocado with lime juice. Next add parsley, cilantro, and basil. Then stir together gently. Next add to the mango mixture and combine thoroughly. Place 1/3 of mixture in blender or food processor with ice water, olive oil and puree until smooth. Stir puree mixture into remaining mango mixture.
Lastly cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight. Then serve cold with tortilla chips or pita chips.

GO MANGO
MANGO GAZPACHO
MANGO Notes

Enjoy this variation of gazpacho during summer months when cucumbers, herbs, and fruits are fresh. Either from the garden, farmer market, or store. Because avocado, mango, lime, and herbs merge beautifully for this gazpacho. As well as being loaded with rich flavor and tons of vitamin E.

Although cold soups are different, there is nothing more refreshing on a hot day than a bowl of cold soup. In fact, they are becoming an essential part of tail-gates, backyard BBQ’s, and a welcome addition to eating light. Quite possibly the most notable cold soup is Spanish gazpacho. Even though it’s creation was centuries ago.

Just remember that the spice of life is stirring things up. So, whip up a little gazpacho today. And add a flavor list of endless experiences from around the world.

VIVA LE SOUP!
TO FOREIGNERS EVERYWHERE