Je Suis Ne Francais

About a month ago I posted about how I made, or tried to make, Ratatouille. It was a school assignment since I'm taking French as my foreign language. 

Well here I am, again, thinking I can cook, and appreciate, French food.  

My assignment was to make French Onion Soup. And in terms of accuracy to the original recipe, which the lady who wrote the book says she got while in France, and taste, I think I did pretty well. A lot better then last time when I ended up with an under-cooked, oily, and bitter rendition of what is supposed to be a classic.

My family said they liked it, but as for me... I'm not huge big fan. 

French Onion Soup

Serves 6

9 oz beef, chopped

2 onions, chopped

2 bay leaves

1/2 cup parsley leaves

2 tsp whole black peppercorns

8 cups water

1 1/2 oz butter

1 TBLS olive oil

4 large onions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup dry red wine (you can use non-alcholic)

2 oz butter

2 slices bread 

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. To make stock; combine beed, the shopped onions, bay leaves, parsley, peppercorns, 

and water in a large saucepan, bring stock to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for 3 hours. 

Strain, cool, refrigerate over-night. Schoop the fat from the top of the stock.

2. Heat butter and oil in large sauce-pan, add the sliced onions, 

cook over low heat until onions are golden brown and soft; this will take about 20 minutes, 

stir occasionally. Add the flour, stir constantly over heat for 1 minute.

3. Add the wine and 5 cups of the stock; stir constantly over heat until mixture boils and thickens. 

Reduce heat, simmer covered 10 minutes.

4. Slice the bread. Melt butter, add garlic, and brush onto each side of the bread. 

Place onto an ungreased oven tray, bake in moderate oven for about 20 minutes 

or until bread is dry and crisp.

5. Sprinkle slices with parmesan cheese, bake further 5 minutes. 

Place slices in serving dishes, top with hot soup; serve immediately.

I'm thinking that I need to eat some authentic French food, so as to give it a fair chance. But I obviously am not from France :).