Franck's Soupe à l'Oignon (French Onion Soup)

Yesterday Franck had a long day, travelling to and from Versailles for meetings, and so, I thought - tonight, I will cook for my cheri.

Like the loving wifey in training, I flashed an assured smile and clutching a list marched my way over to the grocery, repeating over and over in my head my mantra, "Grocery shopping is still shopping and can be fun."

The evening's menu: Franck's French Onion Soup... the day had been cold and grey, and soup always makes things better. Right?

WRONG!!!

Next thing I know, I'm in Franck's Kitchen, tears streaming down my face, literally sobbing my eyes out trying to get through cutting 7 onions.

It turns out that this whole 'onions make you cry' saying is not a myth!!! 

Try cutting onions wearing contacts - it's just impossible. Franck took one look at me, the vision of patheticness, swooped into the kitchen, swapped my knife with a glass of cold, white wine, shooed me out of his kitchen and finished the onion soup himself. 

(Note to self - if I want to get out of cooking, crying works.)

Feeling guilty, I made a salad and added an avocado to be exotic. 

As per usual - the soup was great, anyone who knows Franck can attest that his cooking is divine. 

Here is his recipe. If you're wearing contacts, I suggest switiching to glasses prior to cutting up the onions. Or just get someone else to do that job. 

Franck's French Onion Soup

Serves two with leftovers, maybe more, I mean it depends how much you eat.

4 big onions or 7-8 of the puny French onions

50 grams of semi-salt butter

a soup spoon of flour
1.5L water

salt, pepper

bread - grilled

shredded cheese 'Elemental' - lots of it

Melt the butter in a cocotte minute (pressure cooker)

Add the cut up onions
Add the water and the salt and pepper

Sprinkle the flour

Turn the pressure cooker to 'One' and when it starts to whistle, turn the heat down and let it cook for 15 minutes

In the meantime, grill the bread in the oven, then add to the soup which is now in the bowl

Add the shredded cheese and put back in the oven for a few minutes.

Pair this with a bottle of cold, white wine, we chose a Saint-Joseph 2009, and summer heels. Anna Dello Russo tells us that we should wear evening clothes during the day; I say, when the weather outside is yucky, wear a pair of summer heels around the house.  

Summer heels and flower patterned pants, the perfect antidote to a soggy September day in Paris.