Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée

Soupe à l'Oignon GratinéeSoupe à l’Oignon Gratinée
French Onion Soup

Few dishes encapsulate comfort and elegance quite like French onion soup. This rich, savory broth, brimming with caramelized onions and crowned with a golden, bubbly layer of cheese, has captivated food lovers for centuries. A staple in French cuisine, its origins are humble, yet its depth of flavor and satisfying warmth make it a beloved dish across the globe.

French onion soup dates back to at least the 17th century, though some variations can be traced to Roman times. Originally a dish for the working class, it was made using simple, inexpensive ingredients: onions, bread, and broth. Over time, it evolved into a refined culinary treasure, finding its place in Parisian cafés and fine dining establishments alike. Today, it remains a cherished part of French gastronomy and an enduring comfort food worldwide.

The soul of French onion soup lies in its deeply caramelized onions. Achieving this rich flavor requires patience, as onions must be cooked slowly over low heat until they develop a deep golden brown hue. This process can take much more than an hour, but the result is an intensely sweet and savory base that defines the soup’s character.

French Onion Soup Recipe

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Cherry Noodle Kugel

Cherry Noodle Kugel

🍒 Cherry Noodle Kugel 🍒

Traditionally, noodle kugel includes raisins, but this year we found that dried cherries were a delightful substitute. The kugel casserole has a luscious, custardy texture, balancing creamy sweetness with a hint of tang, complemented by the soft noodles and a golden-brown, slightly crisp top. The dried cherries, with their perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors and chewy texture, made a wonderful addition to the dish.

Honeycomb Dinnerware Collection🐝 THE perfect dinnerware for Rosh Hashanah! Kristy’s gorgeous Honeycomb Dinnerware Collection from Williams Sonoma here. 🐝

🍎 Eating honey on Rosh Hashanah is a tradition symbolizing the hope for a sweet new year. On this Jewish holiday, we eat honey with apples and challah, to express a wish for a year filled with happiness, blessings, and prosperity. 🍎

Honeycomb Dinnerware Collection

Rosh Hashanah Menu

Apple Slices with Honey
Challah
✡️✡️✡️
Matzoh Ball Soup
✡️✡️✡️
Slow-Cooked Tomato Onion Beef Brisket
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Florets
Potato Latkes with Sour Cream and Apple Sauce
Cherry Noodle Kugel
✡️✡️✡️
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream and Ganache

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Wolfgang’s Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine

Wolfgang's Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine

Wolfgang’s Carrot and Broccoli Rabe
🥕🥦 Terrine 🥦🥕
Served with Savory Herb Sauce

Of his savory baked vegetable terrine, the Chef says,”It’s impressive and somewhat different.” With broad flavor appeal and a jaunty presentation, this Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine is perfect for entertaining. And Wolfgang Puck sure knows a thing or two about entertaining. This year his catering company hosted Hollywood’s biggest after-party, the Academy Awards Governors Ball for the 30th year!

“To me, spending time in the kitchen should be effortless. It shouldn’t be complicated. It should be fun!” says Wolfgang on Facebook.

While the preparation of this terrine isn’t exactly effortless, it isn’t complicated, and the result is quite fun… Carrots, broccoli rabe, and cheddar are the primary flavors in this delightful layered loaf. Here, I add my umami-rich and creamy Savory Herb Sauce to complement the vegetables, adding another layer of flavors, texture, and herbaceousness.

Wolfgang's Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine

Wolfgang’s Carrot and Broccoli Rabe Terrine Recipe

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Basque Pumpkin Cheesecake

Basque Pumpkin Cheesecake

Basque Pumpkin Cheesecake

We’ve made Basque Burnt Cheesecake several times, and it is always a big hit. With no fruit topping, no crust and five simple ingredients – cream cheese, sugar, salt, eggs, and cream – it is astonishing how absolutely fabulous the original cheesecake actually is…it is baked in a very hot oven so the top and bottom caramelize where the insides remain soft and luxurious.

For Thanksgiving this year, I decided to make a pumpkin version of the Basque Cheesecake instead of serving pumpkin pie. Whoa! Another big hit. It’s rich and ultra creamy; earthy, sweet and pumpkin-y; and flavored with the warm spices of the season.

The cheesecake recipe was originally developed by Santiago Rivera, Chef of La Viña in San Sebastian, Spain. The Chef says, “Its popularity amongst our clients have become La Viña Restaurant’s Cheese Cream Cake a great classic of the San Sebastian cuisine.”

Basque Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

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Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf

Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf

Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf

Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf

There are millions of recipes with the combination of spinach, cheese, and eggs – recipes from wildly different cultures including the Italian frittata, Greek spanakopita, Syrian jibn, French quiche, and so many more…

So why cook this one? Well, it’s easy and inexpensive! It’s crust-free, heavy on the vegetable and light on the eggs & cheese. It’s low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian. And really quite tasty! A simple salad on the side is all it takes to make a fantastic brunch dish. Or slice it into cubes and serve it as part of a brunch buffet.

Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf Recipe

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