Wednesday, November 10, 2010

French Onion Soup

Classic Comfort food. A perfect soup for these chilly nights. and who doesn't love anything smothered in cheese??

Ingredients
  • 8 onions, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 8 cups beef stock
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 loaf French bread
  • 2 cups grated Gruyere

Directions

Saute onions and garlic in oil over low heat until tender and golden yellow. Sprinkle flour over onions, cook a few minutes more, browning the flour well. Add stock and wine and bring to a boil, add thyme and bay leaf. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for 20 minutes or so. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Meanwhile, slice French bread into 3/4-inch slices and butter both sides. Toast slices on griddle until golden brown. Ladle soup into an ovenproof bowl, add toasted bread and cover with cheese. Place ovenproof bowl on a baking sheet lined with tin foil. Bake at 350 degrees F or 5 minutes under a hot broiler.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Brie En Croute


November is here which in turn means the holidays have arrived! I wanted to share one of my favorite appitizers to serve when entertaining for the holidays or when attending a party, it is a baked brie or for you fancy pants out there Brie En Croute. It is super super simple and you can do a number of variations to it but here is a recipe from Paula Deen. Trust me the is so delish you will want to make it all season long! :)

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, pre-packaged
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 (8-ounce) wheel Brie
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Crackers, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Defrost puff pastry for approximately 15 to 20 minutes and unfold.

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Saute the walnuts in the butter until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes. Add the cinnamon and stir until walnuts are coated well. Place the walnut mixture on top of the Brie and sprinkle the brown sugar over the mixture. Lay the puff pastry out on a flat surface. Place the brie in the center of the pastry. Gather up the edges of the brie, pressing around the brie and gather at the top. Gently squeeze together the excess dough and tie together with a piece of kitchen twine. Brush the beaten egg over top and side of Brie. Place Brie on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes until pastry is golden brown.

Serve with crackers.

To give a special look, cut extra pastry into heart or flower shapes and bake until golden.

My favorite is my girlfriends moms recipe that is similar to this but uses cranberries and a little dijon mustard. Get creative and Happy Entertaining!