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Ode to the Onion, May We Weep with Joy

Vidalia, I a-peel to thee, oh Georgia’s springtime fruit,

Thou art our southern soil’s most sublime root.

Rescue my hors d’oeuvre from meager acclaim

Then save my salad from wilting shame.

Please deliver my soup from an ordinary fate

And emancipate my entrée from a banal plate,

For thou art nature’s way of marrying discreet,

The opposing flavors of bitter and sweet.

Join my recipes for all to savor

Your layered sweetness and piquant flavor.

I believe a Vidalia onion can make most anything good, so I’m pleased to report that it’s almost crying time again. My beloved tearjerker, the genuine jewel of South Georgia will hit the shelves and roadside stands anew in just a few weeks. I’m preparing for the 2009 Vidalia introduction by re-visiting a favorite recipe that has always pleased friends and family.

A delightful, Southern woman named Janet Hinefield gave this recipe to me. Janet is a gem, and a bit of a belle. She grew up in South Georgia and has lived her entire adult life in Atlanta. Janet spent many years as manager of the art books section at the beloved, and now sorely missed, Oxford Books. Since then she has kept her place as a local literary bookmark, of sorts, as a volunteer docent at the Margaret Mitchell House. It is gratifying to think that Janet is one of the people to greet visitors to Atlanta at the Margaret Mitchell House. I suspect she makes them believe that there is still something known as Southern hospitality.

Onion Shortcake

For the cake:

• 1 medium-large Vidalia onion
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 small can of creamed corn
• ½ cup of cheddar cheese (you may substitute with reduced fat cheese)
• 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce (or other hot sauce)
• 1 tsp. of vegetable oil (preferably Canola)

For The Topping

• 1 cup sour cream (you may substitute with reduced fat)
• ½ cup cheddar cheese
• ¼ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Dice the onion, then sauté with butter in a skillet (preferably iron, so you can bake the shortcake in the same pan) until the onion is translucent. Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl and add one half of the sautéed onion to the mix, then stir together just until all ingredients are thoroughly blended.

Scrape remaining onion out of the iron skillet and set aside. Add the vegetable oil to the skillet and place the skillet in the preheated oven. Let the skillet warm for 3-5 minutes, remove it and fill it with the batter for the shortcake. In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients (sour cream, cheddar cheese and the remaining onion). Spread the topping evenly, but lightly, over the shortcake batter and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Wrap the shortcake in foil and bake at about 250 degrees until warm for best re-heating results.

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4 Responses to “It’s Almost Crying Time Again”

1. Keith Graham says:

   March 13, 2009 at 6:32 pm

   I loved your ode, agree about Vidalia onions and agree even more strongly about Oxford Books being sorely missed.

   Reply
2. W. Brannen says:

   March 17, 2009 at 6:22 pm

   Terry,

   Love it! How creative! Glad you enjoy our Vidalia onions–and hopefully they’re so sweet they don’t really make you cry (until we’re out of season!)

   Wendy Brannen, Executive Director
   Vidalia Onion Committee
   VidaliaOnion.org

   Reply
3. Billy Howard says:

   March 18, 2009 at 10:49 am

   As the old southern song goes, with a little tweaking, I’ve got tears in my ears from lying on my back and crying over…..your story! Cheers!

   Reply
4. Mary says:

   March 31, 2009 at 6:17 pm

   Over 30 years ago, some kind souls I worked with brought me my first Vidalia onion. I was sure I’d died and gone to heaven. Numerous pairs of panty hose have spent their last days holding these gems. Even my relatives in Walla Walla say there’s no comparison. They’re right!

   Reply

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