Garlic Crostini with Caramelized Onions & Gruyere

Submitted by Shane

Ingredients

Fresh baguette, cut into ¼” slices 3 sweet onions, cut in ½ lengthwise & cut
2 tbsp butter into small strips
2 tbsp olive oil ¼ c. white wine
¼ lb Gruyere cheese, grated 1 clove fresh garlic, peeled
salt to taste fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Place baguette slices in 250°F oven & bake until crisp & golden brown. Remove from oven & allow to cool.
  2. In a sauté pan, heat the butter & olive oil & then add the onions & cook slowly over low to medium heat.
  3. Add salt & pepper to the onions & stir occasionally while keeping the onions evenly distributed on the bottom of the pan.
  4. Add the wine & allow the onions to continue to caramelize. Make sure that the onions do not burn or you will taste some bitterness instead of the sweetness that you are trying to achieve.
  5. Once the onions are golden brown & the liquid has been cooked off, remove from heat & allow to cool.
  6. Rub the fresh garlic clove on each slice of toasted bread (crostini).
  7. On each crostini, place a heaping tsp of caramelized onions & a tsp of grated Gruyere & place on a baking sheet.
  8. Place crostinis in 300°F oven & bake until the cheese is melted & just starting to bubble. Remove from oven.
  9. Serve these warm & watch the reaction of your guests. Bon Apetit!!

Chef’s Note: These appetizers are addictive & delicious. You can experiment with other types of cheese but I highly recommend using Gruyere. It’s a form of Swiss cheese that is so much more complex in flavor than the traditional Swiss that you may be used to. At first it’s a little fruity & then becomes earthy & a little nutty. It goes perfectly with the caramelized onions. This takes a little bit of time to prepare but you & your guests will not regret it. The number of servings will vary.

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

Submitted by Shane

Ingredients

1 c. flour ¾ c. granulated sugar
2 tbsp Cocoa (good stuff if possible) 2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt ½ c. milk
2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil 1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c. chopped nuts (optional) 1 c. brown sugar
¼ c. Cocoa (separate from the 2 tbsp) 1¾ c. hot water
Garnish nuts, ice cream, whipped cream, & Maraschino cherries

Directions

  1. Preheat over to 350°F.
  2. Grease a 9″ square pan.
  3. Mix flour, granulated sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa, baking powder, & salt.
  4. Add milk, oil, & vanilla & mix with fork until smooth.
  5. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan.
  6. Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar & ¼ c. cocoa.
  7. Pour hot water over the batter. DO NOT mix.
  8. Bake 40 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes.
  9. Serve with ice cream & spoon fudge over top. Finish with whipped cream, nuts, & a cherry.