French Onion Soup

Thought I'd try this with a mushroom broth base in lieu of beef stock because I heard it was a good substitute for veggie inclined people. I actually like it better. I used dry sherry because that's what was open. It's often made with white wine and even cognac. For eight cups:

• 5 medium onions, sliced (I used a mix of yellow and white)
• 2 T butter
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 T flour
• A little fresh thyme
• 1/3 cup sherry
• 32 oz mushroom broth
• sliced, toasted bread (I used a baguette I had in the freezer)
• shredded cheese (most often gruyere, but I used cheddar b/c that's what I had)

Heat butter and olive oil in a pan and add onion. Saute on low until translucent. Add a little sugar to help caramelize and let them cook on low for ~ 35 minutes. When they are a nice deep brown, add flour to help thicken. Add the sherry and stir until thick. Add fresh thyme. Slowly add mushroom broth and turn to medium heat until hot. Let simmer on low for roughly 20 minutes to let flavors combine. Toast up some baguette slices (or whatever you have) and throw that on top with the shredded cheese and bake at 425 until top is golden brown.

Zombies and Sweet Potato Fries

SWEET POTATO FRIES

Ingredients:

Sweet potato

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Dried rosemary

Cut 'em up into strips. Put them on a tray and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with rosemary and s&p and bake @ 375 for about 10 minutes. Turn them over and bake until tender and brown.

GARLIC AIOLI

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 T Olive oil

2 T Lemon juice

3 dashes hot sauce

Salt & pepper to taste

Drizzle whole cloves of garlic with olive oil and roast until soft. Put in food processor with olive oil and blend. Add mayo, lemon juice, hot sauce and s&p and blend until mixed. Adjust to taste. Serve to friends or zombies.

Mario Cleans the Carcass

This is a job for someone who is focused, detail oriented, hard-working and iron-stomached. Someone with an epithet. Someone like Mario the Barber.

Magic Potion

Should you wake up with a headache this holiday season, this is what you need to do:

Make a strong cup of coffee. In a saucepan, heat your preferred dairy or non-dairy creamer on low. This could be say ... cream, 2 % milk, soy, almond, rice,  or coconut milk. Add a pinch or two of the following: grated ginger, cardamon seeds, cinnamon, grated clove, fennel or anise seed and honey (depending on the sweetness of your creamer). Add in your coffee and let flavors mix together on low heat. Use a strainer to remove seeds. Something about the combination of caffeine and spices will clear out your sinuses and attack your headache instantly. If you don't take creamer, try putting the spices in your coffee filter or adding them to a pan with your coffee or tea after it is brewed. Thank you to my friend Ketna's mother for making this cha tea for me last New Year's Day.