Candied-Onion Jam makes a great sweet topping for shortcake

Dear Lynne: I stopped at a country store to buy local strawberries. I bought some fresh onions as well. As I checked out, I joked about making a dish of onions and fresh strawberries. Many times since I have wondered if I could actually make that dish. What do you think?

— Peggy from Craftsbury, Vt.

Dear Peggy: Sweet strawberries and balsamic vinegar are a great match, so why not add onions and do a fresh chutney? This would go with just about anything grilled or roasted.

Cut a medium onion into a 1/4-inch dice, toss it with 4 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Let stand 30 minutes or more. Just before serving, fold in an equal quantity of sweet strawberries you've cut into quarters.

This wouldn't be bad spooned over a green salad, either.

Or push the envelope all the way and turn the berries and onion into a sweet like no other. You start with a candied-onion jam, and build from there. Trust me on this one.

The shortcake is a cross between a coffee cake and a biscuit — an old Italian recipe. Bake the cake whenever you have time. Just freeze it until about three hours before serving.

Lynne Rossetto Kasper hosts "The Splendid Table," American Public Media's weekly national show. The program airs at 2 p.m. Sunday on KUOW-FM (94.9). Contact Kasper at www.splendidtable.org.