Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons onions, red or yellow, sliced in rounds and separated
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves, chopped fine
2 tablespoons Madeira, port or sherry (optional)
Pinch of salt
Directions
In a large sauté pan heat the butter and the oil to a medium high heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent and soft, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Turn heat down to medium and continue to sauté slowly stirring for another 10 minutes. Add the thyme and the parsley leaves and continue to sauté, they should be turning brown now and caramelizing. Make sure you scrape the bottom the pan and stir often. Add the Madeira, port or sherry and a little more butter. Sauté a few more minutes until well caramelized and brown.
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
For the soup
1 cup whole chestnuts, roasted and peeled
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon pumpkin oil
1 small shallot, chopped fine
½ of a sweet yellow onion, chopped fine
¼ cup celery, chopped fine
1 medium parsnip, peeled and chopped fine
Salt
1 bouquet garni of fresh herbs in a cheesecloth sack: parsley, thyme, rosemary (a few springs of each)
2 fresh bay leaves
½ cup sweet Madeira
4 cups of sweet onion broth (see recipe)
½ cup heavy cream
Black pepper
For the grape honey
1 cup frozen concord grapes or fresh black grapes, chopped
¼ cup water
½ cup honey
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of fresh nutmeg
1 teaspoon ginger, freshly grated
1 teaspoon cardamom
½ tablespoons black pepper, freshly cracked
DIRECTIONS
For the sweet onion broth
In a large soup pan, add a bunch of red onions skins, shallot skins, carrot pieces, parsnip pieces, and 4½ cups of water. Add 2 tablespoons salt, ½ cup honey, and 1 tablespoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain, and set aside.
For the soup
In a large heavy bottom soup pan, over medium high heat, add butter and pumpkin oil. Cook shallots and onions, until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the celery and parsnips, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add bouquet garni, bay leaves, and Madeira. Add the 4 cups of sweet onion broth, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove bouquet garni and bay leaves and blend with hand held immersion blender until smooth.
For the grape honey
Place all ingredients in a medium sauce pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer about 4 to 5 minutes. Take off heat. Cool. Place in blender, and blend until smooth. Strain using a fine mesh strainer.
To serve soup, place in bowl, and swirl in grape honey.
INGREDIENTS
Fresh ginger
Fresh basil
¾ oz lime juice
1½ oz dark rum
¾ oz Madeira
Ginger beer
Lime wheels, for garnish
PREPARATION
In a mixing glass, muddle a thin strip of fresh ginger and 3 leaves of fresh basil with lime juice. Next, add rum, Madeira and icem and shake vigorously. Strain over ice into rocks glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a basil leaf and a lime wheel and serve.
© Recipe courtesy of Justin Briggs
