Ode to the often overlooked (but seldom forgotten) onion!

Snow covered streets, skiing, sledding and ice fishing. It’s winter in the Hills of Headwaters, and rather than fighting it (because really, what’s the point), let’s find a way to embrace it. After a day outside, there’s nothing more comforting than coming into the house to a home cooked stew, soup, or casserole waiting to feed you and your family.

We know that we get the most requests in January and February for products and recipes that relate to slow-cooked comfort foods.

Virtually every recipe we look at calls for onions -- the often overlooked ingredient that we sometimes take for granted. But stop a minute, and think about what your cooking would taste like without onions. Onions are the base of virtually every soup, stew or casserole and are vital to our cooking. To that end, this month, we feature some great Kitchen Toys that focus on onions.

And our Product of the Month, the Le Creuset Mini Cocottes are just perfect for home cooked comfort food. (In fact, the new Mini Cocotte cookbook features a fabulous recipe for French Onion soup and here's a low salt verion of French Onion Soup)

Embrace winter and spend some time outside and in your kitchen this month, and when you do head into town, be sure to drop by the store and say hello!

Warmest wishes for 2011,

In this Issue

• Culinary Events and News
• Did you know?
• Le Creuset Mini Cocottes
• Fun Kitchen Toys
• All About Onions

Culinary Events and News

CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Keith B, the December winner of an Emile Henry Pizza Stone

January Subscriber Draw
All subscribers to our electronic newsletter during the month of January will be entered to win a Le Creuset Mini Cocotte (value $29.99).
Subscribe to Secrets from our Kitchen

WinterFeast 2011
February 15th to March 6, 2011
www.winterfeast.ca

Did you know?

• The sulfuric compounds in onions are what makes your eyes tear up when cutting into an onion.
• There are approximately 105 billion pounds of onions produced each year around the world.
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest onion ever grown came from Silsden, England, and weighed in at 10 pounds, 14 ounces.
• Vidalia onions can only be considered real Vidalia onions if they are grown in Vidalia, Georgia.
• Folklore says the thickness of an onion’s skin is a good predictor of winter weather conditions: a thin skin means a mild winter; a thick skin means a cold and rough winter.
• Ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion, believing that the spherical shape and concentric rings symbolized eternity.
• Onions come in three colours: yellow, red and white, with 88% of worldwide onion crop being yellow onions (7% for red onions & 5% for white onions).
• Libya has the highest per capita consumption of onions, at 66.8 pounds of onion consumed annually per person.
• One serving of onions is approximately 45 calories.

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Le Creuset Mini Cocotte

Set of 4 Mini-Cocottes
Including Bonus Cookbook

Le Creuset’s 8-ounce Mini Cocottes are the perfect size for individual portions, side dishes and even storing spices.

For a limited time, purchase the set of 4 Mini Cocottes and receive a bonus cookbook dedicated to the great features and benefits of the Mini Cocotte. Perfect for gift giving, this set of 4 comes in a beautifully packaged hat box with lid.

Like all Le Creuset stoneware, the Mini Cocottes are truly an all-in-one dish. You can use them to bake, slice, serve and store. The classic design and bold, beautiful colours add a distinctive charm to any table.

Mini Cocotte Cookbook

This brand new cookbook from Le Creuset features 25 specially created recipes, developed just for the Mini Cocotte and its versatile cooking and serving features.

Classic recipes including French Onion Soup, Macaroni & Cheese and Molten Chocolate Cake are featured throughout the fully illustrated hardcover cookbook.

Purchase 4 Mini Cocottes from Le Creuset and receive the cookbook as our gift to you!

Set of 4 Mini-Cocottes, including bonus cookbook $100.00

Individual Mini Cocottes $29.99 each
(available in turquoise, green, red and black)

Try the Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Enjoy this wholesome Chicken Pot Pie recipe served in our mini cocotte. This recipe serves 4 people so why not treat yourself or a loved one to our special limited edition set of 4 flame cocottes complete with cookbook!

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Fun Kitchen Toys

Put it in the Fresh Bag!

Reusable and environmentally friendly the Fresh Bag from Dalla Piazza keeps vegetables and onions fresh for weeks. The space between the 100% cotton bag and the specially perforated, naturally breathing inner poly lining, creates an atmosphere ideal for preserving for food for a longer period of time.

$13.00 each

No more onion odours!

Prevent onion odours while keeping cut onions fresh and moist. Because it looks just like an onion, you’ll never forget what’s inside. Simply place cut onion inside, and twist to lock.

Made of dishwasher safe plastic.

$4.99 each

Remove the sock and leave the stock!

Perfect for making clear, flavourful broth. Simply place desired ingredients in the fine mesh sock, tie the end and place in the pot. When you’re done, remove the sock and your stock is done!

$4.50/package (3 socks per package)

A French bistro in your kitchen!

Gourmet du Village’s Bistro Collection brings you a set of two traditional onion soup bowls in white porcelain. Featuring embossed lettering, these bowls are oven proof.

Included in the set is a recipe and traditional Onion Soup mix. You’ll have dinner on the table in minutes.

$19.95 (set of two)

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A Guide to Onions

Onions may be the most common, universal ingredient used in cooking around the world. There are numerous varieties of onions, with certain types more suitable for certain types of cooking applications.

Onions can be divided into two basic categories:
Fresh onions are milder tasting onions, that usually have a thin, light-colour skin and have a higher water content.
Storage onions have a stronger, more intense flavour, and work best in dishes that require longer cooking times. When stored in cool, well-ventilated spaces, storage onions can last for several months.

FRESH ONIONS

Knob or spring onions feature rounded, white bulb bottoms with thick green stems, and are usually sold in bunches. Great for stirfries.

Green onions (sometimes referred to as scallions), usually sold in bunches, feature long, straight, bright green stems, and a small white base that hasn’t fully developed into a bulb. Great in salads, eggs, or other items that require mild flavouring.

Sweet onions are mild and creamy flavoured onions, and include Vidalia onions. Ideal for eating raw, in salads or in sandwiches.

STORAGE ONIONS

Yellow onions account for 88% of worldwide onion product. Available year round, they are harvested in the fall and are the most widely available onion. The Spanish onion is a large variety of the yellow onion and is perfect for onion rings or for making onion soup.

Pearl onions are small, marble-sized onions with thin, paper-like skins, that are sweet and tangy in flavour. The skin of the pearl onion matches the colour of the onion itself and is available in red, white or yellow. Skins can be removed by dropping the onions into boiling water for 60 seconds and then pinching the root end to slip off the skin.

Red onions or Bermuda onions are sweeter and milder tasting than yellow onions. Due to their sweet, mild flavour, they are great for eating raw. The bright red colour also makes them particularly appealing in dishes that require a strong visual impact.

White onions are sweeter than yellow onions when served raw, but taste very similar to yellow onions when cooked. Used extensively in Mexican cooking.