French Onion Soup

I have wanted to make French onion soup for a very long time. The reason I have waited so long was years and years ago I had a bad experience when hubby and I were out to dinner. Since then I have not ordered or attempted to make some.

On my group page one of my foodies shared an easy recipe for it and that got me tempted.  I looked over the internet and thought before I make her recipe I'll try one from Rachael Ray mainly because the recipe appealed to me.

It seems I always change up a recipe in some way or the other. I'll use an asterisk* to note any changes.

We enjoyed this recipe and I will definitely make it again.  The only thing it's a bit tedious slicing the onions. It's imperative to slice them thin. Watch your fingers!!!

Enjoy!

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 6 medium onions, thinly sliced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, picked and chopped or poultry seasoning* I used dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried(*small)
• 1/2 cup dry sherry
• 6 cups beef stock
• 4 thick slices crusty bread, toasted
• 2 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese ( I used Gruyere but it’s a little pricey) so you may want to try Swiss or even mozzarella).
  
  

Heat a deep pot over medium to medium high heat. Work next to the stove to slice onions. Add oil and butter to the pot. Add onions to the pot as you slice them. When all the onions are in the pot, season with salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Cook onions 15 to 18 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender, sweet and caramel colored. Add bay leaf and sherry to the pot and deglaze the pan drippings. Add 6 cups stock and cover pot to bring soup up to a quick boil.

Arrange 4 small, deep soup bowls or crocks on a cookie sheet. Preheat broiler to high. Once soup reaches a boil, ladle it into bowls. Float toasted crusty bread on soup and cover each bowl with a mound of cheese. Sprinkle remaining fresh thyme on cheese and place cookie sheet with soup bowls on it under hot broiler until cheese melts and bubbles.

From my kitchen to yours,

9/2/17