Monday, October 6, 2008

French Onion and Fontina Cheese Soup

A couple weeks ago, I promised recipes from my French Menu . Today is my final installment on that promise in publishing my side dishes.
Here they are:

French Onion & Fontina Cheese Soup with Susie’s Homemade Ciabatta Bread
Ingredients
3 tbl olive oil
2 large Vidalia onions
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 pepper
3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 cups beef broth
4 slices Susie's Homemade Ciabatta Bread Croutons (see recipe below)
4 slices Fontina Cheese

Directions:
1. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender (about 10 minutes). Add thyme and broth. Simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes.

2. Divide soup between 4 ovenproof bowls. Add croutons evenly among the bowls. Top each bowl with a slice of cheese.

3. Broil for 4 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and enjoy immediately.


Susie's Homemade Ciabatta Bread
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup water
1-1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tbl olive oil
3-1/4 cups flour and more for board dusting
1-1/2 tsp yeast

Directions
1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order that they are listed here. (it is really important to keep the yeast away from the wet ingredients until you are ready to mix). Select Dough cycle and Start.

2. The dough will be really, really sticky. Don't be tempted to add more flour because the flour on the board is enough. Divide the dough into two pieces and form them into 3x14 inch ovals. Place the loaves on baking sheets, dimple surface and lightly flour. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Dimple the dough for a second time and bake for 30 minutes.


Leafy Greens with Apples and Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
4 bowls of your choice of leafy greens
1 red apple, thinly sliced
1 tbl shallot, finely chopped
1 tbl apple cider vineagar
1 tbl Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tbl olive oil
Fontina cheese, thinly sliced for garnish
Walnuts for garnish

Directions:
1. Bowl up the leafy greens. Top with apples.

2. In a small bowl, add shallot, vineager, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk briskly while slowly streaming in olive oil.

3. Dress salads with the dressing. Garnish with Fontina cheese and walnuts and serve.

Serves 4

19 comments:

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

Where do you get the fontina cheese? I have looked for that before and couldn't find it.

Susie said...

I found my Fontina cheese at a fancy dancy store we have here called Sendicks. It is an imported cheese so, you might have to go to a specialty market. In a pinch, you can use Swiss. Get the nuttiest you can find:-)

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I keep bookmarking the recipes for when we hit France with our geography program :-)

And, if I am too chicken to attempt to bake bread...what can I substitute for the bread crumbs? Just regular toasted bread?

Sisterly Love Card Co said...

Sounds yummy!! Congrats on being a saucy blog!

Susie said...

You can substitute another thick bread for the Ciabatta if you want:-)

And, when you get to the French section, don't forget to post:-) I can't wait to see it:-)

Jen said...

nice. I think I will try some of these for my Holiday menus.

Tabitha Blue said...

Wow, this looks amazing! What a great meal. Yum, I'll have to try it :)

Frizzy said...

It's a cool morning here in CA and that Onion soup sounds yummy. So does everything else but the soup especially.

Alicia @ Oh2122 said...

Those greens sound yummy!

And as I'm just now warming up to onions, not having been a fan of them when I was a kid, I'm dying to try a really good French Onion Soup. Thanks for sharing yours!

Dianna said...

I looove French Onion soup. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

The bread and salad sound wonderful! Too bad I am not an onion lover, or liker for that matter! haha! :) Thank you for sharting, YUM!

Natalia said...

Yum yum yum...french onion soup always looked so complicated to me but your recipe totally seems like something I could pull off!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Yummy food. I have to admit, I got distracted while reading your recipes. I glanced over at your ETSY site. OH MY GOSH. The picture was awesome and I had to click over. Peanut Butter and chocolate chip cookie dough, covered in chocolate. You are my hero!!!! Congrats on making the Saucy SITSta blogroll.

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

BTW, I just twittered about your Etsy site. I thought it was all so yummy. Ihope this sends some traffic your way.

Pennies In My Pocket said...

WOW - everything sounds absolutely fabulous! I'm bookmarking this post for later! I'm feeling all Frenchy now! ;-)

~melody~

illahee said...

wow, that sounds delicious!!

thanks for visiting my blog via BATW!

Shannon said...

Ooooo I've been waiting ever so patiently for the soup recipe... thanks!!!

Robin said...

I just discovered your recipes. I am considering doing french onion soup to my 5 kids. They love it at TGIF Fridays. The salad looks like my kind of salad!

Angela said...

You have a real talent for great recipes.


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