Caramelized Onions

“These are the days of the endless summer

These are the days; the time is now

The Garden – July 16, 2016

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There is no past; there's only future

There's only here; there's only now”   ~ Van Morrison

This weekend, as my husband and I drove home from the garden, we were dirty and sweaty; the last glimmers of the day's light reflected off the cornfields.  Little Z rode shot-gun on the console beside us, his fur all wet from playing in the sprinkler, his tongue flapping in the ac, and smiling a huge happy puppy smile.  The only thing on my mind?

These are the days, and how very thankful I am for them all

I thought today it might be fun to share a few highlights.  Things that have been happening in our world

lately

Listening to: Gone With the Wind.  Twenty-nine(!) years ago, I spent the summer in a hospital bed.  My Grandmother helped pass the time by reading me Gone with the Wind.  It's a story I don't want to forget

Cooking:  Warm Salad of Roasted Kale, Coconut + Tomatoes, Red Flannel Hash, and lots of Iowa sweet corn on the grill

Smiling at:  All of our friends

As the responses came in for last weekend's Spaghetti Saturday, it was clear it would be the first we'd have to cancel.  They were everywhere(!)   At the beach, sipping pink cocktails at pool parties, dipping their toes in the river, in New Zealand, California, Wisconsin, Chicago, running races, and playing jazz at weddings.

Loving:  Night walks around the neighborhood

Happy:  For subtracting much from my life, less stuff, less self-imposed pressures, less noise, less negativity from others. I ‘m a better me with less

Enjoying:  My grandchildren.  One who's on the cusp of walking.  The other collecting ants, digging for worms, asking for band-aids,  asking to visit Grandma and Pappa, wishing for the moon (and an ice cream cone)

Proud:  For building a life that I truly love

Pondering:  Names for the newest additions to our furry family (English cream golden retrievers).  We can't wait to bring them home the first weekend in August

One the short list?  Harry and Sally, Fred and Ginger, The Professor and Mary Ann

The first pictures of our new puppies – 5 weeks old (Boy on the left and girl on the right)

As gardens brim with onions this time of year, caramelizing them is a great way to put them to use.  It's such a wonderful way to pull flavor from the simplest of ingredients

Few things will amplify the flavor of your dish in quite the same way.  They're tender, candy-sweet (yet savory), and can turn anything from a burger to a bowl of fresh pasta into something instantly gourmet

The biggest thing to remember?  They can't be rushed.  Bump up the heat, and they're sure to burn.  Take them off too early, and while they may look authentic, they'll lack the deeply caramelized, hauntingly savory flavor

The only way to go about it is to grab your biggest pan, set the burner to medium-low heat, and let them cook.  At this temp, the sugars trapped within the onions will caramelize steadily, never burning, and instead grow ever more golden and delicious

Don't feel like hovering by the stove-top?  Once the onions are going, simply check on them every few minutes to give them a stir. Be sure to scape the sticky “fond” that builds up on the bottom of the pan and incorporate it back in.

A few tips and tricks?

One way to ensure the most even browning is to use a radial cut when slicing your onions.  By slicing the halves on an angle (rather than straight down), you'll end up with pieces closer in size that will cook at the same rate

Halve the onion and notch out the ends

Start cutting thin slices at a low angle and follow the natural curve of the onion

Adjust the angle of your knife as you slice; it should be at 90 degrees when you've reached the middle

Flip the onion over and repeat

You can certainly use water during the deglazing stage, but wine sure does take them up a notch.

Many recipes call for butter only, but on its own, butter has a tendency to burn.  Instead, use something with a higher smoke point.

Now that you have a big batch of caramelized onions, what are some ideas for using them?

A spoonful on slices of a baguette for a quick appetizer.  They're great on top of pizza or steak, in fajitas, layered onto burgers and sandwiches (especially grilled cheese), added to salads, or even straight out of the pan

If you're feeling brave, like my Dad and Granny, you might even love liver and caramelized onions

Enjoy!

xoxo

ps:  For more tips and tricks:  Caramelized Onions – Common Mistakes and How to Avoid them   [via Bon Appetit]

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~ Adapted from Fine Cooking | Cook Fresh Spring 2015