Oh-so-sweet Gems

By Christy Rost, February 2005

Thanks to global markets, we have the pleasure of enjoying fresh produce throughout the year, even during the winter. Have a yen for strawberries in January? No problem! Ripe, juicy tomatoes when the outdoor thermometer reads 30 degrees? Of course! These gems are as near as your closest supermarket.

One of the most popular, fresh staples we use in cooking are onions. Like other fresh produce, onion sources vary depending on the season. Right now, the sweetest onions of all come from the foothills of the Andes Mountains in South America. They are the OSO Sweet® onions, known to have as much as one-third more natural sugar content than other varieties.

Sweet onions can be used in the same way as regular storage onions, but there are some definite advantages to these sweet gems. Because sweet onions contain more natural sugar, they caramelize better when sautéing, meaning a richer, golden color and flavor to top pizzas, sandwiches, or hors d'oeuvres. When this onion variety is sliced raw, it lends an unmistakable sweetness to salads, burgers, and dips. My favorite characteristic of the OSO Sweet® variety though, is that they don't make me cry when I slice them. How sweet is that! For more information on sweet onions, please visit www.sweetonionsource.com.

This year's Super Bowl will be played Sunday February 6. Whether you watch the action or prefer the commercials, a casual buffet of hearty pickup foods is an absolute necessity to enjoying the game in front of the television. My recipes for Grilled Smothered Flank Steak Sandwiches with Caramelized Sweet Onions and tortilla chips with Jalapeño Salsa will score big points with your family and guests. You'll find them pictured on this month's easyentertain.com homepage. Click on the link to the recipe page, and you're all set to enjoy these mouthwatering treats in time for the big game.