Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Blanch onions in boiling, salted water 30 seconds; drain. Slice off the root end. "Peel" the onions by pressing them slightly between your fingers; the inner part will slip out of the papery skin.

2. Whisk together oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Put onions in a roasting pan, add oil-vinegar mixture, and toss to coat well. Bake until tender

(about 25 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool in pan. Taste; adjust seasoning as necessary.

3. To serve, place 2 onions and 1 cheese cube on each cocktail skewer.

Makes 24 to 30 skewers.

NOTES : Tiny pearl onions turn sweet and soft when roasted with oil and vinegar, especially a vinegar as mellow and rich as Italian balsamic. The onions can be roasted a few days ahead; the cheese can be cubed and wrapped in plastic a day in advance. The cheese will cube better if cold, but both onions and cheese taste better at room temperature.

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