Carmelized Onion Soup

I'm not usually a fan of soups, but really enjoyed this one.

16 shallots (not green onion)
1 tbsp. olive oil
3/4 c. butter
3 1/2 lbs yellow onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp. brown sugar
3/4 c. cooking sherry
1 tbsp. dried thyme, crumbled
1 tbsp. ground sage
2 c. chicken broth
1 c. beef broth
3 c. whipping cream
3 tbsp. minced fresh thyme
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. favourite hot sauce

Preheat oven to 375F.

Peel shallots, toss with oil in a bowl. Arrange shallots on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 30 mins., turning occassionally.

In a large pot, over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions & sugar and cook until onions carmelize, stir frequently. Cook about 50 mins.

Add whole shallots, 1/2 c. sherry and the dried herbs to the pot. Cook until almost no liquid remains in pot, stir occassionally, for about 5 mins. Add broths and simmer 25 mins. Add cream and simmer until thickened, about 10 mins.

Add remaining 1/4 c. sherry, thyme, parsley and hot sauce to soup. Season with salt and pepper.

Serves 8.

Enjoy,
Myrna

Baked Pears with Cinnamon

A nice dessert with or without ice cream.

5 ripe, firm anjou Pears
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. dark brown sugar (packed firmly)
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 c. raisins
1/3 c. water

Preheat oven to 350F. Core pears with apple corer, being careful to only remove core and stems. Trim bottoms so they will stand upright. Arrange in a baking dish. In bowl, combine sugars and cinnamon. Stir in raisins. Fill pears with half of the sugar mixture. In the other half of the sugar mixture, stir in the 1/3 c. water and pour around the pears.

Bake pears, uncovered, until tender and the sauce is like syrup. If syrup becomes too think, stir in a bit more water. Baste pears occassionally. Bake about 50 mins.

Serves 5.

Enjoy,
Myrna

Pineapple Nut Bread

Another nice Afternoon Tea bread.

2 1/4 c. sifted all purpose flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. bran
3/4 c. walnuts
1 egg
1 1/2 c. crushed pineapple, undrained
3 tbsp. butter, melted

Sift flour, measure and sift with sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add bran and walnuts. Beat egg well, add pineapple & butter and add to dry ingredients. Combine. Bake in oiled loaf pan at 350F for 1 hour & 10 mins.

Makes 1 loaf.

Enjoy,
Myrna