- Because I like to be tan...
- Because I like the beach...
But, if I'm really honest with myself...
- I don't tolerate the heat well. It makes me feel lazy.
- On a similar note- if I'm not working out, I shouldn't be sweating. Gross.
- Salads galore- while I eat them pretty often, they aren't my favorite- there's nothing comforting about a salad.
- I can't see if there is any INCLING of sun- I ALWAYS have sunglasses on, and then I get tan lines ;)
There is one season that I ALWAYS love... and that's autumn! It kind of snuck up on me. But honestly, what's not to love?
- Pumpkin, Apples, and Butternut Squash are in EVERYTHING!
- Sweaters and Jeans (I love a good sundress, but nothing says comfort to me then my big sweaters!)
- Halloween and Turkeys!
- I love a good iced coffee, but I much prefer it hot!
- CHRISTMAS IS COMING! (anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am a Christmas FANATIC- I mean, we even had a Christmas Wedding!)
So, on a quiet night, I decided to welcome the autumn eating season with one of my favorite meals- perfect for a cool night when I just want to curl up on the couch with a girl-dog.
Note how I didn't include my husband. Because, as an onion-hater, he would NOT have liked this meal ;) ... and that's why I saved it for a night he wasn't home ;)
French Onion Soup
serves: 1 as a veryyyyy full meal, or 2 as a starter or with side dishes time: active: 40 minutes, total: 90+ minutes
Loosely inspired from The Pioneer Woman
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. Earth Balance Butter
2 yellow onions, sliced
1 tbsp. vegan worcestershire sauce (I used Annie's brand)
1/4 cup dry white wine (I used Pinot Grigio because that's what I drink and we always have a bottle in the house!)
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cups vegetable broth (although I bet this would be really good with Imagine Brand Not-Beef Broth... if I hadn't been lazy, I would have gone to the store!)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Crusty Bread
Gruyere or Swiss Cheese (totallyyyyyyy optional- A few days ago I made Giada's Cauliflower Gratin (sans bacon!), and had gruyere cheese leftover- to be honest, the gratin gave me a stomachache, and in the soup, the gruyere cheese was too strong. Next time I make this soup, I'll just top it with toasted bread and butter!)
Directions:
1. Melt Earth Balance butter in a big saucepan (or soup pot!) over medium-low heat. Add in onions, and stir until all onions are covered in the butter. Don't go too far, but don't hover over the onions, either. Stir the onions every 3-5 minutes for about 30-40 minutes until they are soft, and a caramel-brown color. If they are browning and crisping, then lower the heat!
2. Add in salt, pepper, wine, and worcestershire. Stir for another 5 minutes, until the wine has reduced by half.
3. Add in thyme sprig and vegetable broth. I like this soup thick, like a stew, but if you want it thinner, add in more broth and water (and remember, you may need more worcestershire and salt and pepper if you do!)
4. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes, or longer!
5. When ready to serve, top bread with grated gruyere cheese, and place in the toaster oven. Remove the thyme leaves, and ladle the soup into serving bowls, then top with bread. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving, so the bread can soak up lots of the onion-y broth :)
While it was AMAZING, it is pretty rich, and I just couldn't finish it all :( Besides, I got interrupted because Keely started going crazy...
The squirrels and groundhog outside must have been taunting her. We went for a walk to check it out (or to work off some of that soup-coma); shockingly, Keely still didn't find the groundhog, but at least she worked off some energy ;)
We spent the rest of the night watching The Lucky One (girly-movies aren't Tom's thing, so I figured it would be a good time to watch it!). It wasn't bad... I didn't have high expectations, but it was definitely better then expected :)
...and knitting (another one of my favorite cold weather pasttimes!)
...and Keely got to play with her puzzle game... she's getting so good at it!
xoxoxox
Note how I didn't include my husband. Because, as an onion-hater, he would NOT have liked this meal ;) ... and that's why I saved it for a night he wasn't home ;)
French Onion Soup
serves: 1 as a veryyyyy full meal, or 2 as a starter or with side dishes time: active: 40 minutes, total: 90+ minutes
Loosely inspired from The Pioneer Woman
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. Earth Balance Butter
2 yellow onions, sliced
1 tbsp. vegan worcestershire sauce (I used Annie's brand)
1/4 cup dry white wine (I used Pinot Grigio because that's what I drink and we always have a bottle in the house!)
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cups vegetable broth (although I bet this would be really good with Imagine Brand Not-Beef Broth... if I hadn't been lazy, I would have gone to the store!)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Crusty Bread
Gruyere or Swiss Cheese (totallyyyyyyy optional- A few days ago I made Giada's Cauliflower Gratin (sans bacon!), and had gruyere cheese leftover- to be honest, the gratin gave me a stomachache, and in the soup, the gruyere cheese was too strong. Next time I make this soup, I'll just top it with toasted bread and butter!)
Directions:
1. Melt Earth Balance butter in a big saucepan (or soup pot!) over medium-low heat. Add in onions, and stir until all onions are covered in the butter. Don't go too far, but don't hover over the onions, either. Stir the onions every 3-5 minutes for about 30-40 minutes until they are soft, and a caramel-brown color. If they are browning and crisping, then lower the heat!
2. Add in salt, pepper, wine, and worcestershire. Stir for another 5 minutes, until the wine has reduced by half.
3. Add in thyme sprig and vegetable broth. I like this soup thick, like a stew, but if you want it thinner, add in more broth and water (and remember, you may need more worcestershire and salt and pepper if you do!)
4. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes, or longer!
5. When ready to serve, top bread with grated gruyere cheese, and place in the toaster oven. Remove the thyme leaves, and ladle the soup into serving bowls, then top with bread. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving, so the bread can soak up lots of the onion-y broth :)
 |
| I always have to have something green- so I roasted some Brussel sprouts! |
While it was AMAZING, it is pretty rich, and I just couldn't finish it all :( Besides, I got interrupted because Keely started going crazy...
The squirrels and groundhog outside must have been taunting her. We went for a walk to check it out (or to work off some of that soup-coma); shockingly, Keely still didn't find the groundhog, but at least she worked off some energy ;)
We spent the rest of the night watching The Lucky One (girly-movies aren't Tom's thing, so I figured it would be a good time to watch it!). It wasn't bad... I didn't have high expectations, but it was definitely better then expected :)
 |
| Source |
 |
| The yarn matches our bedroom perfectly! Can't wait to cuddle with that blanket when it's finished! |
xoxoxox
French onion is my sisters favorite soup, but I've never seen it made quite like this! Looks waaaay better! Def passing this along! Spa love!
ReplyDelete