4 large Vidalia onions
1/4 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup shredded (fresh) Parmesan cheese

Peel onions, leaving roots intact. Cut each onion into eighths, cutting just to the root, but not through. Place each onion on a lightly greased square of foil. Press butter into onions, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and cheese. Wrap in the foil then arrange in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake at 400 for about 1 hour.