Oh so Good French Onion Soup

• olive oil↗1 tablespoon
• butter↗2 tablespoons
• medium onions↗6

  thinly sliced

• salt and pepper
• fresh thyme↗2 teaspoons

  chopped

• bay leaf↗1
• dry sherry↗1⁄2 cup
• beef stock↗6 cups
• slices crusty bread, toasted↗4
• shredded gruyere or swiss cheese2 1⁄2 cups

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat a deep pot over medium to medium high heat.

2. 2

   Work next to the stove to slice onions.

3. 3

   Add oil and butter to the pot.

4. 4

   Add onions to the pot as you slice them.

5. 5

   When all the onions are in the pot, season with salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme.

6. 6

   Cook onions 15 to 18 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender, sweet and caramel colored.

7. 7

   Add bay leaf and sherry to the pot and deglaze the pan drippings.

8. 8

   Add 6 cups stock and cover pot to bring soup to a quick boil.

9. 9

   Arrange 4 crocks on a cookie sheet.

10. 10

    Preheat broiler to high.

11. 11

    Once soup reaches a boil, ladle into bowls.

12. 12

    Float toasted bread on soup and cover each bowl with a mound of cheese.

13. 13

    Sprinkle remaining fresh thyme on cheese and place cookie sheet with soups on it under hot broiler until cheese melts and bubbles.