Dandelion Wine and Onion Marmalade

see, when i was growing up my father made wine. not from grapes, but from whatever we had in the garden: plums, peaches, pears, apple and of course dandelion. the basement smelt delicious each fall and summer as he created ciders and wines and softdrinks -and my mother canned and froze whatever was she could fit into a glass or a freezer bag. it was like being raised by hamsters, darling! my father wanted to bring a bottle of his dandelion wine to his parents one trip across the pond to england - this must have been 1975 ... and the pressure in the cabin released the cork and the entire overhead filled with the fragrance of dandelion wine. and onion marmalade? long before it was fashionable to make the cute little puree often coloured with port or brandy reduction and plop it down next to your steak, everyone knew the succulent tastes of caramalised onions left to sweeten in the pan after the meat had been taken out. when i was in college i was dying to try something- anything - out in the kitchen to take home and show i wasn't a complete loss to my parents. all i had was a pound of sugar and a pound of onions. toss in some olive oil, garlic and my travelling companion herb de provence - well, i'm still making jars of this today and everyone is STILL shying away until they have it in their mouth. then the jar is quickly emptied. i'm sure if i called it onion compote there wouldn't be such a performance. but i'm not about to.

dandelion wine and onion marmalade. and while i have not yet made dandelion jam i'm sure to before this blog is complete. time for a nightcap. katrin

welcome readers

yes another blog, but a blog with a purpose. my mewings have been confined to my own kitchens until now - where only my husband and staff need have suffered them quietly. but i would like to share the moments of dandelion wine and onion marmalde with a wider public. perhaps then my long suffering private audience will get less of an earful and have more time to enjoy what they eat and drink ... but internet is slow here at 5 am in the ex soviet belarus republic today. the dacha is fine- but more on that when i am full awake darlings.

poka! katrin