Tuesday, May 27, 2008

How does your...Onion Patch Grow?


That's right...If you are like me and tried to extend the life of your onions in the garden this year they have just about hit the point of no return. As much as i love red onions in my salad I also appreciate the fact that they act as a natural pesticide and keep those annoying buggers away from surrounding veggies. As i took my nightly peak at the garden i realized i need to find some kind of use for them in hopes to not let waist away. I would hate to let any of my organic veggies go to waist but now that i have this abundance of onions it's time to think different and act quick!

Go ahead and take your pick from a few of these ideas. Feel free to use up all your onions on one project or stretch them out to cover a number of different uses for the summer season coming up.

Food:

Onion Soup

2 Tbs Butter
5 Medium onions, sliced thin
2 Tbs Sugar
3 1/3 Cups beef stock
5 Cups water
1/4 Cup brandy (optional)
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp ground pepper
4 Tbs shredded, Gruyere Cheese
4 Slices French bread, Toasted (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 400F In a large saucepan melt the butter. Add the onions and sugar, increase the heat to high, and saute until the onions are light golden, about 10 min. Reduce the heat to moderately low and saute 10 min longer, stirring occasionally
2.Add the stock and water, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil; reduce the heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, 20 min. Add the brandy, if desired, and the salt and pepper, and increase the heat to high; return the soup to a boil.
3. If you plan to freeze: wait until soup is warm, place in airtight freezer container, mark container for later use.
4. Place four 8oz oven proof ramekins or soup bowls on a heavy duty baking sheet. Ladle the soup into the bowls, dividing equally. Place 1 slice french bread and 1 Tbs cheese on top of each portion of soup.
5. Bake uncovered until the cheese melts; about 5 minutes.

Makes 4 Servings

Red Onion Relish (Canned)

3 Tbs Olive Oil
2 Lbs onions, peeled and sliced
1/2 Cup sugar
1 Tsp Kosher salt
1/2 Tsp ground black pepper
4 Tbs balsamic or sherry vinegar
1 Cup red wine

1. In a large saucepan over moderate heat, heat olive oil. Add the onion slices and cook about 20 min stirring occasionally.
2. Stir the sugar, salt and pepper into the onion mixture. Reduce the heat to low, cover he saucepan and cook very gently for 10 min.
3. Add vinegar and the wine cook uncovered stirring at regular intervals, until the mixture has the consistency of chutney, about 20-30 min. Skim off and discard any scum that forms during cooking.
4. Ladle the onion relish into two hot sterilized half pint jars leaving a 1/4inch space between the top of the relish and the rim of the jar. Wipe the rims, cover, and process for 10min in boiling water. Cool and test for airtight seals. Label, date and store in a cool dark place; onion relish will be ready to eat in 4 weeks. Once the jar has been opened, store the onion relish in the refrigerator.

Makes 2 half pints

Medicinal Purposes

Cough Suppressant
1 Large onion finely diced
2 Cloves garlic
2 Tbs finely diced, fresh ginger
Honey (to taste)

1. In a small saucepan combine onion, garlic and ginger. Add honey to cover and cook over very low heat for 30 min. Then mash together, or run through food processor, and let cool. Strain and store in clean jar with a tight fitting lid in refrigerator.
2. Take 1 Tsp every 15-30 Minutes

Onion (Natural) Decongestant

An onion can help your sinuses drain. Just make some onion juice. You do this by slicing up an onion, place in a bowl and put 1-2 Tbs sugar in it. Let sit about a half hour or until juice forms. Spoon it out and swallow...It's not too bad! One onion can be "juiced" many times. This is a great tip for pregnant woman who can't take medicine.

Athletes Foot Soother

To relieve the itch that often comes with athletes foot; rub onion juice on the affected area.

Sting Soother

If you have been stung by a bee or mosquito; cut the onion in half and hold it on the sting it will take away the pain and cool the sting.

Wart Remover

Rub a stubborn wart with an onion dipped in salt. Continue often until the wart disappears.

Earache Remedy

Just slice the onion in half and put it over the ear hole for about a half hour at a time or until the pain subsides.

Remove Odor:

Remove the smell of paint (or other foul odor) from inside a cupboard or cabinet by leaving a sliced onion inside for several hours.


After Handling Onions: you will want to get the smell from your hands. Try rubbing lemon juice and salt into your skin and rinsing it with cool water. Keep a bag of onions in the house at all times. They are great tasting, useful, and if they start to grow just put them into the ground or a pot of dirt and you will soon have more onions.

Alternative Insecticide

So what to do now that your bug deterrent has been pulled from it's post? Try this very helpful all natural Insecticide to help keep your organic garden just that!

10 garlic cloves
1 Tbs vegetable or mineral oil
3 Cups hot water
1 Tsp dish washing soap (not laundry or dish washing detergent)

1. Puree garlic, skin and all, along with the oil
2. Strain mixture through a sieve(strainer) into a quart jar. Add water and dish washing soap. Cap the jar and shake gently to mix.
3. Decant the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray infested plants, making sure to cover both sides of the leaves. Apply every 3 days for a week to control hatching insect eggs. Repeat as needed after rains or when problems arise.


Happy Slicing!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Those onions look amazing! Red onion is my fave and I wont each anything without red onion in it.. well besides ice cream and sweets! haha