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French Onion Soup -- à la Julia Child, bien sûr

5/21/2012

4 Comments

 
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     Back in the 70's when I lived in Missouri while attending the Kansas City Art Institute, followed by two years in New Jersey where my husband took a job just outside of NYC, and finally the past 26 years in St. Paul, Minnesota, I have been visited almost every year by Renate -- a childhood friend from my hometown of Amana, Iowa. 
     I look forward to these reunions.  Not only do I get to see Renate and hear about what she's been doing lately, but also because I take a break from the every day -- which means I get out of my kitchen.  During a visit in April, Renate and I spent a morning at an antiques flea market and an afternoon at a craft fair.  We also spent a lot of our time dining out at different restaurants in different parts of the Twin Cities.  In fact, we stopped at a local "French Bistro" three times -- one time eating dinner at the bar, another time lunch in the dining room, and the third for appetizers and drinks on the patio.  On one visit we both had a bowl of French Onion Soup, which led me to ask... Why don't I make this more often? 
     When Renate returned home and I was again spending the days in my kitchen, the first thing I made was a big pot of French Onion Soup.  And for the recipe, I turned to Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, of course.

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                              Another Paris Moment, I'd have to say...

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                Recipe from Julia Child | Mastering The Art of French Cooking

     "The onions for an onion soup need a long slow cooking in butter and oil, then a long, slow simmering in stock for them to develop the deep, rich flavor which characterizes a perfect brew.  You should therefore count on 2 1/2 hours at least from start to finish."  J.C.

FOR  6 to 8  SERVINGS

• 1 1/2 pounds thinly sliced yellow onions
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon oil
• A heavy-bottomed, 4-quart covered saucepan
Cook the onions slowly with the butter and oil in the covered saucepan for 15 minutes.

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar (it helps the onions to brown)
Uncover, raise heat to moderate, and stir in the salt and sugar.  Cook for 30 to 40 minutes stirring frequently, until onions have turned an even, deep, golden brown.

• 3 tablespoons flour
Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 3 minutes.

• 2 quarts boiling brown stock, canned beef bouillon, or 1 quart of boiling water and 1 quart of stock of bouillon.
• 1/2 cup dry white wine or dry white vermouth
• Salt and pepper to taste
Off the heat, blend in the boiling liquid.  Add the wine, and season to taste.  Simmer partially covered for 30 to 40 minutes or more, skimming occasionally.  Correct the seasoning.
Set aside onion soup, uncovered, until ready to serve.  Then reheat to the simmer.

• 3 tablespoons cognac
• Rounds of hard-toasted French bread, spread on one side with grated cheese  and sprinkled with drops of olive oil.  Browned under a hot broiler before serving.
• 1 to 2 cups grated Swiss or Parmesan cheese
Just before serving, stir in the cognac.  Pour into soup cups over the round of bread, and pass the grated cheese.


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4 Comments
RS
5/21/2012 05:58:12 am

so nice... and wonderful the visits are. Loved Salute and all the good food--will have to come back soon for your soup!

Reply
Merisi in Vienna link
5/21/2012 07:13:12 am

I am running out of new ways to express my feelings when I look at your food images, other than say I am sure the soup tasted at least as good as the pictures. ;-)

You'll never guess what I did when I read "Amana, Iowa" - or would you? The name of your hometown evoked images of the refrigerator I left behind when I left the States, a shiny steel finished Amana, with freezer drawers at the bottom: I went to Google to check if the Amana brand had anything to do with your hometown! ;-) Up until then I had not spent a moment's time thinking of that fridge, I am very happy with the Miele I own now! ;-)

I remember fondly - as if it were yesterday - when I first studied Julia's recipe for onion soup. My mom used to cook onion soup on Good Fridays, but never with that fancy melted cheese topping, so I was very curious to find out how to make it.

Reply
Eileen
5/21/2012 07:37:27 am

Yes Merisi, the Amana Refrigerators were made in the Amana Colonies -- Middle Amana to be exact; about 2 miles from where I grew up.

Reply
Tom @ Tall Clover Farm link
5/23/2012 01:14:45 am

This is a keeper recipe if I ever saw one. I'm partial to Walla Walla onions, then again I'd be voted out of Washington state if that was not the case. I've found though that the winter storage type onions make a deeper flavored soup. So I'll try it both ways and let you know what I find or decide. Yet again, another magically delicious post.

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