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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

When Life Gives You Onions...

When life gives you onions, don't cry. You can always make jam! Granted, you may cry a little in the process, but it will be worth it in the end. Last year I made my first batch of jam with the last of the fresh summer tomatoes. Within a couple weeks we had devoured it and the summer farmer's markets were well over. Since then, I've been wanting to expand my jam repertoire. Thanks to Daniel's canning adventures last week and the extra mason jars we had lying around, I quickly felt the urge to jam.

Like many delights from the kitchen, making jam is not nearly as daunting a task as you may think. Just keep stirring! This onion jam recipe yields a buttery onion spread that offered a burst of sweetness and delectable onion flavor that will make even a piece of dry toast dance across your palate.I used vidalia onions for this recipe because they are sweeter and have a higher water content. More natural juice means you don't need to add liquid and more onion flavor.

Onion Jam

Although there are plenty of alternatives you could throw in our substitute, for this batch I wanted a strictly aromatic onion jam with a nice caramel color and a burst of sweet onion flavor.


3 lbs Vidalia Onions, halved and quartered
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2/3 Cup Sugar
2 tbsp vinegar

1. Place oil and onions in medium stock pot. Season with salt and stir onion quarters to coat with oil. Place over medium heat and cover with tight fitting lid. Allow onions to cook 20-30 minutes until tender, checking s little as possible.
2. Add both sugars and vinegar. Stir to dissolve and coat onions evenly.
3. With medium heat, using a wooden spoon stir occasionally at first, and more often as it gets closer to being done. As you stir, use the spoon to begin squashing onions. Continue cooking and stirring until you reach desired consistency.
4. Place in glass jars, allow to cool, and seal.
5. Enjoy!

There are a plethora of options for you to choose from as you decide where to use your delicious homemade goodies. I already have plans to use it on a bacon tomato foccacia and am contemplating a savory thumbprint cookie. But, since we weren't going to be able to try them until this morning, I choose to use them in our breakfast fare atop some warm rosemary scented scones. Whatever you choose to use it on, you and whoever you choose to share it with will be delighted.

Rosemary Scented Scones

The rosemary in these provides a subtle herbaceous note that pairs beautifully with a slightly sweetened scone on its own, and becomes a delectable breakfast treat with the extra sweetness and onion goodness from your own onion jam

1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Dried Rosemary Powder
4 Tbsp Butter
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Half & Half plus additional for brushing
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt for Sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line baking sheet with baking mat. Mix flours, baking powder, sugar, and rosemary in bowl to combine. Cut in butter until mixture resembles crumbs.
2. In a separate cup, mix egg and half & half. Once combined well pour over dry ingredients and stir until mixture just comes together.
3. Remove mixture from bowl (there may be some dry ingredients left behind, don't worry), and pat into a circle on baking sheet. Cut circle into 4 or 8 wedges depending if you want small or larger scones.
4. Separate across baking sheet and brush with half & half. Sprinkle with pink salt and place in oven.
5. Cook 10-15 minutes until golden brown.


Enjoy!

33 comments:

Mother Rimmy said...

What a great idea. I love tomato jam. Can't wait to try this one!

Anonymous said...

Mmm... a vidalia onion jam sounds incredible! So perfect with these delicious scones too!

Tracy said...

Onion jam on my sandwich. Onion jam on my toast. My burger...oh the possibilities.

Nic said...

This is heaven for me, as I love onions so much! Great photos and the scones look wonderful too!

singerinkitchen said...

Sounds very interesting!

Cook with Madin said...

Vidalia onion for jam. HEAVENNNNN! Love your recipe for the scone, you just said the magic word "Rosemary" love them. You think it's okay to use fresh rosemary, my good friend just gave me some from his garden.

Reeni said...

I always wanted to make onion jam! I am a serious onion-lover and add them to everything. It looks absolutely delicious with the scones. What a fantastic combo!

Brie: Le Grand Fromage said...

great combination! looks lovely!

Ana Powell said...

Good advise, jam it will be.
Awesome post ♥

Drick said...

now I'm just gonna make me some of this onion jam, you know it is right up my alley - just love it..........oh, let me know when ya'll are in p'cola, I'm heading to Navarre beach soon although I know the beach might be covered in oil ... where do you get your seafood in PC - Joe Patti's or is that too touristy??

The Housewife said...

I love onion jam... its super versatile and delicious on almost anything! I love the pairing of the rosemary scones (scones are a major weakness!) and the onion jam!

Fresh Local and Best said...

These two look like the perfect combination. I like the sweet, savory and tangy flavors of this onion jam.

denise @ quickies on the dinner said...

Oh my! Scones, onions and rosemary.....I am in foodie heaven!!! Btw - I love that saucer!

Lisa | Authentic Suburban Gourmet said...

Love it - a savory scone with that amazing onion jam. I am in food heaven. I archived your post, so I could make it down the road!

Anonymous said...

I love vidalia onions and cannot believe I never thought of using it in a jam before! This is a great post :)

Emily Malloy said...

Whooooa. How freaking awesome is this!?!?!?!?!?

Rick said...

Someone just made onion jam on top chef! Great minds think alike.

RamblingTart said...

What a fantastic idea!!! I absolutely love it! :-) This would be so good on a sandwich with salmon and goat cheese. Yummers! :-)

Jen Cheung said...

loooks super yummy! I never had onion jams before. I wonder how it taste like. hehe. lovely idea you have there. what a creative mind you have!! thanks for dropping by! i'll be saving u as blogroll so i remmeber to visit you more often! take care and have a fabulous weekend :)

jen

Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial said...

Looks delicious! We'd call this onion marmalade...hmmm..

Magic of Spice said...

Fascinating! Looks delicious:)

sweetlife said...

onion jam and rosemary scones, oh your incredible..too tasty..I love the recipe..bookmarked

sweetlife

Stella said...

Your onion jam sounds awesome, and I'm very curious about canning (especially since I'm going to be gardening more soon), but I must say what took me was the scones. That middle picture makes them look so perfect. Yum!

Claudia said...

This jam looks perfect -planning uses for it in my head. But I may have to do those scones pretty soon. Love savor scones ... the scent of rosemary - heaven.

M. said...

oh, I love onion jam.....I should finally try making it myself... :) It sounds amazing combined with those rosemary scones!!!! wow.

Lori Lynn said...

Onion jam with rosemary scones sounds like a perfect match. Love your cute plate too.
LL

Debbie said...

I have never made jam or even heard of onion jam, but I am intrigued! I think I will have to try this out with your rosemary scones! Awesome pics too!

Lo said...

I love onion jam -- but I particularly LOVE the pairing with the rosemary scones. Great use for all the summer herbs growing out in the garden these days!

Amelia PS said...

it must have been such an incredible flavor burst!!! Caramelized onions are delicious, this must be even better.
Just stumbled on your blog...happy happy happy!!!
Amelia (www.ztastylife.com)

grace said...

i have absolutely no use for raw onions. if i'm gonna eat the suckers, i want them cooked down to within an inch of their lives, and involving sugar just makes them that much more appealing. yep, jam is my ideal method for onion consumption. :)

My Little Space said...

My goodness, onion jam! Cool! I've never tried something like this before.
Kristy

Koci said...

Onion jam? What a cool idea!

Banana Wonder said...

Oooooo love the idea of onion jam and rosemary scones! This is fantastic. My Aunt works for a small onion farm and is constantly unloading 50 lb bags of onions on me.

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