Onions Won't Leave You Crying For Time

When mealtime is just around the corner and a busy, active lifestyle leaves your family starved for more than time, use onions and these easy preparation ideas. From now until August, growers across the United States will be shipping juicy, crisp, sweet, fresh onions to local grocers.

Onions are easy to prepare and add flavor and texture to every meal. From breakfast to dinner, yellow, red and white onions are simple to use, taste terrific and provide a healthy dose of important nutrients and phytochemicals.

Add zest to any meal in minutes with these simple onion use ideas:

• Use raw onion in salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, homemade salsas and relishes for unmatched flavor and crispness.

• Marinate onions in balsamic vinegar for salads and dressings or put on sandwiches.

• Saut� or caramelize onions for a flavorful, yet quick and easy side dish or topping for chicken, fish and other meats (see recipe and image). By using medium to low heat, adding a little olive oil, herbs and seasonings onions will take on most any flavor desired. Serve alone or with a medley of other vegetables, rice or pasta to make a vegetarian main dish. Caramelize a large batch to use later. Simply, refrigerate or freeze for soups, appetizers, omelets, stir-fries, or a tasty pizza topping.

• Put onions on the grill to spice up the next barbecue. Just slice onions and brush with olive oil, then grill over medium coals until tender and slightly charred. The smoky flavor gives the perfect twist to baked beans or salsa. Onions can also be used on kabobs or tossed with herbs and served over grilled meat.

• Fill hollowed out onions with soup, chili, rice, pasta, meat or vegetables and bake for a yummy one-dish meal. Oven and microwave baking gives onions a tender texture and a mild, pleasing flavor, which is great in casseroles, quiches or Mexican dishes.

• Put onions in a roasting bag or a favorite crock-pot stew to give a home cooked meal an extra savory, mouthwatering flavor.

  -Fry onions to create petals, straws, rings and blooms for tasty appetizers, sides or toppings on a meal.

Onion Saute

7 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives

1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme

1 teaspoon butter or margarine

1 teaspoon olive oil

Break apart onion slices into individual rings and place in large mixing bowl. Set aside. Combine salt, pepper and herbs in small bowl. Sprinkle mixture over onion rings, tossing to combine. Heat butter and oil in large skillet; add onions and cook over medium heat. Cook and stir for about 8 minutes, or until onions are soft. Makes 6 servings.

Per serving: About 105 cal, 3 g pro, 21 g carb, 2 g fat, 14% cal from fat, 2 mg chol, 404 mg sod, 3 g fiber.

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