Onion Tart

Oh, wonderfully delicious onion tart! The first time we remember being blown away by one was at Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival more than a decade ago. The France kiosk had a version that was perfectly caramelized with a crisp yet light crust — it impressed us so much that we looked through a bunch of cookbooks that afternoon hoping to find a recipe that seemed similar so we could try to make one at home. We purchased a couple of books & tried them when we returned but they weren’t quite the same as the deliciousness we had that day at the park.

Over the years, Mr. The Inspired Parent has tried different versions — he’s nailed it with one that is now a family favorite.

Alsatian Onion Tart | theinspiredparent.com

The crust in our version has a bit of corn meal in it, making it a more savory-style crust. We find that this not only adds a great little crispy quality but the flavor pairs perfectly with the onion mixture. Don’t rush cooking the onions — low & slow is the key to increasing the flavor of the onions, softening them nearly to the point of caramelization though you’ll back off on the heat before getting to that point.

As long as you keep an eye on the onions so they don’t brown, this is a simple recipe and quite an impressive one that your friends & family will love!

Happy Cooking!

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Lebkuchen

Honey, citrus, spices, oh my! These tasty gingerbread-style cookies are a family favorite of ours and are one of the staples on our gorgeous holiday cookie trays that Mr. The Inspired Parent makes each year.

Depending on which historical reference you read, Lebkuchen or “honey cake,” was likely invented by Franconian monks. It is documented as making an appearance around the 13th century in what is now Germany. There are varieties that are more sweet or more spicy — this version is well-balanced & great with a cup of coffee or tea.

Lebkuchen | theinspiredparent.com

Lebkuchen hold up ridiculously well if kept in an airtight container — we bake these a week or more before our holiday gatherings. Not only is it super convenient since they can be made so far in advance, but the flavor just gets better and better as a few days go by. They’re still quite good warm out of the oven or after cooling, but by days 3-5 (or later!), the spices intensify a bit, adding to the cookie’s complexity & making these the perfect bake-ahead treat for your upcoming gatherings!

Happy Baking!

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Vegetable Soup with Italian Sausage

We have a bit of a love affair with different soup noodles…so many fun shapes & any of them will go perfectly with this super easy & versatile soup. Our daughter chose Garofalo Farfalline Pasta this time around but any of your favorites will be a great addition. For this latest batch of soup, we used Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage but love using different sausages from our local butcher shop and spicier varieties as well.

Veggie Soup with Italian Sausage | theinspiredparent.com

Once the soup has been ladled into the bowls, we typically finish things off with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of freshly grated imported Pecorino Romano, which we always have on hand in our home. Yum!

Have fun, play with your seasonings and flavors — soup is one of the easiest meals to change up to suit your mood.

Enjoy & happy cooking!

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(Un)Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

Stuffed cabbage rolls are great, but making them always seems so time-consuming. After trying several different cabbage casserole recipes over the years, they all had the same issues…either lacking in flavor, were too water-logged, or just plain boring.  We wanted a casserole that was full of flavor, not overly watery/wet, easy to assemble, on the healthier side and would reheat well for lunch or dinner the next day.

We came up with a combination that hits all of our requirements and it’s now a family favorite.

Super easy, reheats beautifully in the oven or microwave - definitely a family favorite!
Reheats beautifully in the oven or microwave – you can easily heat up a portion in a skillet over low heat (put a few teaspoons of water in the pan & cover for a few minutes).

It’s super easy and we’ll often make it ahead of time during the weekend and then pop it in the oven after work on Monday for a fabulous dinner (*bonus* — not having many dishes to clean on a busy night).

Hope you love it as much as we do!

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