Onion rings, onion blossoms and onion petals. Onions with pierogies and hot sausage. Onions on hot dogs and hamburgers and pizza.

This weekend, the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival will offer all that onionness, plus a new taste -- "swinging vines," which Ray Christy of D'Anthony's Pizzaria in Butler describes as a mass of thinly sliced, floured and deep-fried onions.

"They get their name because when they're served it looks like a bunch of grapevines," says Mr. Christy, whose eatery is a fest first-timer. It'll also be serving D'Anthony's famous French onion soup, a grilled chicken and caramelized onion pizza and maybe a steak and cheese sub -- with onion, of course.

The festival -- it starts at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Butler Fairgrounds on Route 422 in Prospect -- celebrates the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion, which was trademarked in 2002 by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association. The group licenses the farmers who grow this remarkably mild onion.

To be labeled a Pennsylvania Simply Sweet, the sugar content must be above 6.5 percent. "I checked my onions and they're 8.8 percent," said Art King of Harvest Valley Farms, one of the members of the Butler Onion Network. Mr. King has been selling the Sweets for about five years "and the sales have increased every year."

The network is one of the festival's sponsors, along with WBUT radio, Friedman's Fresh markets and the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau.

In addition to vendors' onion (and other festive) foods, an onion-eating contest and an onion recipe contest, there are cooking demonstrations, a farmers market, a car cruise and a Diamond Rio concert. There also are lots of activities for kids, such as a petting zoo, games and a precious pet contest.

Admission is $3 or $2 per person if you bring a nonperishable food item; ages 10 and under get in free. Tickets to see the Diamond Rio concert, which also get you into the rest of the festival, are $18.

All proceeds and the donated food items benefit the Butler County Food Cupboard.

For tickets, call 724-287-5778 or visit wbut.com. Recipe entry forms and rules are available at WBUT studios and online.

Call Brenda English of Butler the queen of the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival recipe contest. So far she hooked the 2006 and 2007 first prize awards. Is she going for the third? "The third time's the charm," she said. What's her secret to creating winning recipes? "Presentation is important. You eat with your eyes first." Here is her 2007 winning recipe, along with one for Mexican Sweet Onion Pie. A recipe for Caramelized Pennsylvania Sweet Onion Ice Cream follows.

-- Arlene Burnett

• 1 large Pennsylvania Simply Sweet onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter ( 1/2 stick)
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 package won ton wrappers
• Dipping sauce, below

Saute chopped onion in butter over medium to medium-high heat until transparent (8 to 10 minutes). Cool. Mix cheese, bread crumbs, chives, parsley, salt and pepper. Combine with cooled onions. Place one won ton wrapper on a flat surface. Wet outside edges with water. Place 1/2 teaspoon filling in center. At a diagonal bring each section to the center to meet. Twist top to seal and tie with a ribbon of chives (optional). Place in a bamboo steamer or metal steamer. Place steamer in a pan or wok with water. Cover and cook over medium to medium high heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove and place on a plate and serve with Dipping Sauce, below.

DIPPING SAUCE

• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons pureed onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix together and serve with Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Bundles.

Makes 20 appetizers.

-- Brenda English and the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival

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PG TESTED

• 1-1/2 cup butter round crackers, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 6 tablespoons butter, soft
• 2 cups thinly sliced Pennsylvania Simply Sweet onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 4 cloves roasted jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cups Monterey jack cheese
• 1 pinch chili powder
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

This recipe, from Mike Wilczynski of Butler, was a finalist at the 2007 Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine crackers, cumin and chili powder and 4 tablespoons of butter in a bowl until well blended. Press into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of an 8 inch pie plate. Place in refrigerator until needed. Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in skillet over medium heat.

Saute onions, garlic and jalapeno peppers slowly until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Arrange the mixture in the cracker crust.

Beat eggs, milk, chives and salt in a bowl until blended. Pour the mixture over the onions. Sprinkle with cheese and chili powder. Bake in a preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until knife comes out clean. Garnish with the cilantro. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Serves 9 to 12.

-- Mike Wilczynski and the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival

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This recipe, from Jennifer Walker of Butler, was a finalist at the 2007 Simply Sweet Onion Festival.

• 1 teaspoon butter
• 2 large Pennsylvania Simply Sweet onions, diced
• Salt
• 3 eggs (or 3/4 cup egg beaters)
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup half and half, divided

Place butter in a small nonstick pan over medium heat. Add a layer of diced onions then sprinkle with salt (about ¹/₂ teaspoon depending on the size of your pan). Repeat layering until all the onions are in the pan. Cook onions until light brown, stirring occasionally, about 15 to 20 minutes. (This caramelizes the onions and concentrates the sugar content making them even sweeter.)

In a mixing bowl, mix the eggs and sugar well. Add heavy cream, vanilla and 1/2 cup half & half and mix.

Place onions and the remaining half & half in a blender; blend until smooth.

Add onion mixture to the mixing bowl and combine well. Put mixture into ice cream maker, following your manufacture's instructions.

Garnish with chocolate sauce and sprinkles if desired.

Makes 2 pints.

-- Jennifer Walker and the Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival