1 small white onion, unpeeled, plus 1 medium-sized white onion
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
5 bay leaves
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt
1 pound shrimp (any preferred size), in shell
1/2 pound cleaned squid, bodies only, cut into 1/4-inch dice to make about 1 cup
1 pound lump crabmeat, picked over to remove bits of shell and cartilage
2 large or 4 -to 5 medium-sized ripe tomatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and seeded
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded
1/2 small bunch Italian parsley, leaves chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/2 small bunch mint, leaves only
1/2 small bunch Mediterranean oregano, leaves only
1/4 cup finely crushed soda cracker crumbs or best-quality fine-dry breadcrumbs from good French or Italian bread (no substitutes)
4 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon olive oil