FRENCH ONION SOUP

 

If I had a choice of where to eat French Onion Soup.  I would Choose the Bistro across from the Paris Opera House.  It's said the performers would wander over late at night after a performance.  And indulge in their famous "French Onion Soup."  I can just picture "Degas"  ballerinas chatting  while eating soup.  I loved that Bistro too.  But since I don't live in Paris anymore.  I recreate the same soup (maybe better)  in my own country french kitchen.  Isn't it nice that memories never die.    

 So get planting some onions ! Now is the perfect time.  Onions are easy to grow.  Buy what is called onion sets.  This is a bundle of small tiny onions.  Just put them in the ground in a sunny spot and water. Viola! Onions

This is my recipe for french onions soup.  I bought a small little french cookbook called "The Best of France" at "Harrods" in London.  It's a favorite. Every recipe is great.  Watch for more recipes from this treasured little book.
   

Soup a' I'Oignon Gatinee                                           

1 1/2 lbs thinly sliced onions, about 3 large onions.  * see note
3 Tbs. butter
1/8 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. flour
6 cups beef stock
1/2 cup white wine
Bouquet Garni *  see note
8 slices french bread ( I use baguette)
melted butter
 garlic halved
1 cup grated Gruyere 
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese




IN a large pot over medium heat, cook onions in butter with salt and a little pepper.  Stir occasionally until soft.  Add sugar and continue to stir until onions become  golden brown,  Careful don't let burn.  Add flour and continue to cook 3 more minutes.  Add stock, wine and bouquet garni.  Cook partially covered for 30 minutes. 


 PREheat oven to 350.  Arrange bread on a baking sheet brushing with melted butter on both sides.  Bake for 15 minutes,  turning over half way through until golden brown.  When just out of oven, cut a  garlic clove in half and rub each piece of bread with the garlic.


REmove the Bouquet garni from the soup and pour the soup into ovenproof bowls.   Place the toasted bread on top of each bowl.  Depending on the size of bread you may need to use 2 pieces of bread per bowl.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake the soup for 15 minutes.  Then turn on the broiler to high.  Broil the cheese until browned and bubbling.  Watch closely.     Serves 4
                                                       Bon Appetite. Peggy


 * I like to use a mandoline slicer.  I actually have a cheap one called the "sleek slice",  it's very useful.


* Don't let a word like "Bouquet Garni" scare you from a recipe.  What your basically doing is putting some herbs in a small package,  like cheese cloth.   In this recipe I just throw in 2 bay leaves, a piece of celery,  about 1/2 tsp dried thyme and a sprig or 2 of parsley.  Then at the end I fish out the bay leaf and maybe the parsley and celery.