ONION soup

I love onion soup! LOVE IT! I think the best restaurant versions are Jason's deli which is veggie!!! they use soy to give it such depth. It is great but probably full of sodium. The other is La Madelaine.
I make this whenever myself or the kids are sick. The onions are very antimicrobial and the thyme plant is a microb killer! My kids eat the broth and some of the onions. I also top it with cheese SO yummy
ONION soup
onions use a mix of yellow(sweet) and white(sharper)
garlic
wine or sherry
beef stock or consomme or homemade(best but time consuming)
bay leaf thyme salt and pepper
water Gruyere cheese or Swiss or provolone(please try to get Gruyere it is incredible)
slice the onions and put in a big skillet in a few tablespoons of oil. brown slowly on medium heat. you can stir them but if they are getting too brown turn down the heat. this takes at least 30 mins and is THE most important part of this dish so don't rush it and start early. caramelize onions,this just means brown them without burning. If you need put heat on low and saute long and slow. as you get better at this you can do it faster.
put onions in soup pot with one or two garlic cloves(I love garlic but don't add too much to this dish) and add your wine or sherry 1/2 to 1 cup. cook down for about 10 mins.
Add your herbs. I use thyme and bay leaf from my garden but dried works really well. These are pretty important to the final taste. Dont add any other herbs they dont substitute well.
cracked plack pepper.
Add your stock if you want a lighter soup use chicken stock or veggie stock(good veggie soup)
I really like mine hearty so I make my own beef stock but to make this quick I really like Campbell's beef consomme. I use 2 cans and 2 cans water.
Cook for about an hour on low medium.
Add a splash of sherry to the finished soup.
ladle into bowls and top with grated Gruyere cheese and black pepper.
I dont like wet bread but you can put a slice of toasted bread in it if you like that.
put under the broiler if you want or have time but dont leave it!

I will be making gazpacho soon as the garden is ready!! CANT WAIT!!

Lemon caper chicken with Faro warm plums and tomato basil salad
chicken breasts or thighs(cheaper and tastier)
lemon
garlic
herbs like sage parsley thyme etc(mine are from the garden)I used all
capers(these are pickled berries from the Mediterranean region)
wine stock or water
olive oil or butter
Faro(this is found in middle eastern grocery stores)sub wild rice
plums(from our tree)
tomatoes and basil(garden) with some type of vinager, balsamic or red wine,sherry?
FARO
2 cups water to one cup faro cook just like rice 20 mins on simmer
slice the chicken in half crosswise your knife horizontal to counter
salt and pepper and dredge in flour if you would like more browning.
add olive oil to pan a few tablespoons(its healthy dont worry!)
sear on medium high heat than drop heat to medium. cook several mins than flip.
cook chicken thru and remove to plate
add garlic and capers add herbs(I love whole sage leaves fried in the oil)
add wine (or sherry)stock or water and squeeze lemon(to add extra flavor zest the lemon and add this at the very end,dont add it to the liquid while cooking or its bitter)
turn to low and reduce until a bit thicker. Add back the chicken breasts and warm thru
TOMATO SALAD
slice the tomatoes and add a little salt and pepper basil and vinegar with healthy oil
PLATE the chicken with the sauce and return the pan to the heat(its empty now) put the sliced plums in the pan and just warm them. You could use apples instead. you may need a little oil or butter or water
plate the faro,plums and tomato salad and
BASK IN THE LOVE OF YOUR FAMILY!!

Earth day dinner
We are going veggie for Earth day.
We eat at least 2 veggie dinners a week this is an easy one.
Quorn fake chicken patties served on any good bread or English muffins etc. I had white bread from the Chez bakery in West TX smothered with mayo(mines homemade but Hellman's is good) lettuce, tomato, sliced onion or shallot(omit if kids don't like)pickles etc.
Served with homemade onion rings and corn.
Recipes
MAYO
egg yolk(mines from my own chickens but if not you can add about a tablespoon of very hot water to coddle the egg)
whisk,blend or food process in 1/2 c oil. I use grape seed for health benefits but use what you have. Olive oil is pretty strong in flavor so use something more neutral. sunflower, canola etc
small squeeze of lemon juice a couple of drops really
salt and pepper.
OR just use store bought!
ONION RINGS
slice yellow onions in big rings toss in seasoned flour,about 2 cups.
remove and set aside. now add some liquid to the flour like water, milk,buttermilk,beer or club soda(remember the onions have been taken out and set aside) make a thicker pancake batter consistency, about 1/2 -1 cup of liquid, add slowly whisk than add more till the consistency is thick but pourable.
toss in onion rings.
fry in a skillet with 1 inch of oil on medium high heat, turn when light brown and fry other side. You don't need to submerge them in oil and make sure the oil is hot when you put them in and they wont be greasy.
When done put them in the oven with the fakey bakey chicken and keep warm.
heat the corn or serve corn on the cob(my kids love! cob)
Serve with ketchup.