the friday feed: onions

My parents had a vegetable garden at every house we lived in. They always grew green bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, and onions - those were the staples. My dad loved his onions. He would plant them to border three sides of the garden. He especially loved the little green onions. What a thrill to go to the garden, gently pull a few from the dirt, and see that little white bulb at the end of the green stem. That's where the thrill ended. Dad took them into the kitchen, washed them off, cut off the little hairy end, sprinkled them with salt, and ate it. Ew. As a little kid, onions were icky.

My parents also grew yellow onions for cooking and to slice for hamburgers and other sandwiches. My dad liked a butter and onion sandwich. I remember chopping onions for soups and chili and all at once my eyes watering, sometimes to the point of crying if it was a really strong onion. Amazing how something that looks so innocent can bring about a such a teary reaction.

At the farm we sell candy onions. These are a hybrid of the common onion and a sweet onion. They're a great option for those who want something between a sweet and more sulfuric classic onion. At the end of the season, one of our customers orders a big bag of candy onions to take him through the winter. He just loves these. I love them for their flavor and for the fact that they don't cause eyes to water.

Chopping onions: stem

on one end, hairy on the

other, tears inside.