Day 8- Onion Soup with Loads of Thyme and Giant Gruyere Crostini

Nothing like the smell of caramelizing onions to warm the tummy. This recipe just looked so good that I could hardly stand to wait until day eight!

Today's been another big cooking day for me. First thing this morning I finished the peanut butter balls that I started last night. Peanut butter balls have been a Christmas staple at our house for as long as I remember. 

Since I can't find paraffin wax here, the chocolate coating isn't quite as nice as the normal version, but hey, they're still darn good! And easy- the filling is just peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar. For the coating, chocolate and paraffin wax (or as in my case some milk to smooth out the chocolate).

I even found some adorable little holiday candy papers so I thought I'd throw them in. Yay!

After I finished up the PB balls, I started looking around to find something for lunch. I had a lot of spinach left after the T'fina Pkaila earlier in the week so I decided to make the Simple Summer Spinach recipe from Epicurious. After the spinach had wilted, I threw some leftover chickpeas in to warm up. 

Just before eating I squeezed a lemon wedge into the mix and it was FANTASTIC! Such a quick, healthy and filling lunch. Chickpeas are excellent for health and I think we all know what a superfood spinach is. I think I'll be keeping ready-to-eat chickpeas in the fridge from now on.

Tomorrow being Christmas Eve, I wanted to finish up all of my treats so that I could focus on making a feast for dinner. So in the early evening I made Chocolate Mint Sticks. These are another one of my favorite holiday treats. Homemade brownies on the bottom, a layer of mint frosting and then a chocolate coating. So good. These were really quick and easy too. Thanks to my mom for sending me the recipe!

first you make the brownie

next, mint frosting!

finally, chocolate sauce for the top!

so good!

Finally, I started the onion soup. The recipe is enough for two, so I doubled it and caramelized an entire kilo of white onions. The smell of them cooking away with fresh thyme and bay leaves was to die for. Following some of the reviews on the recipe, I threw the 25-30 minutes out the window and cooked until the onions were a really dark, delicious amber color. 

I wish this photo allowed the smell to come through. Ahhh.

The caramelization took at least an hour and a half. Worth it? I think so. I also didn't have any wine, so our soup is made entirely with beef stock (unfortunately not homemade- you can't have it all, right?). Once the stock is in there, you just have to simmer for around 30 minutes so that the flavors come together.

As the soup is simmering away, toast some bread. The recipe calls for ciabatta, but I used a plain old french baguette. Finally, ladle the soup into bowls, float some toast and cover with gruyere.

After a few minutes in the oven, EAT!

The verdict: I thought it was delicious. who doesn't love oniony, cheesy, soupy goodness? Sadly, the answer is my husband. He didn't like it. I guess one out of 8 isn't bad, but I was so impressed with myself by the time I was finished! Too bad. Anyways, if you like French Onion Soup, I say try this recipe. If you don't, you won't like it.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!! So exciting. Sad to be so far away from home, but looking forward to eating my peanut butter balls and mint sticks; opening presents and making a yummy feast for dinner.

On the menu: Steak au Poivre, Potato-Parmesan Pave and English Peas with Mint. All from Epicurious. Should be a fun morning at the market!