French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 TBSP - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 2 TBSP - Butter

• 2 Each - Vidalia Onions (large)

• 1 TBSP - Dried Thyme

• 2 Each - Garlic Cloves

• 1 Each - Dried Bay Leaf

• 1/2 Cup - Marsala Wine

• 6 Cups - Beef Broth

• 8 Slices - Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

• 1 Cup - Shredded Gruyere Cheese

• 4 Each - Thick Sliced Italian Bread

• Salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Begin by slicing onions into long, thin strips and then smash and peel the garlic cloves leaving them whole.

2. Heat oil and butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat, then add onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Stir often and allow the onions to soften and caramelize, about 45 minutes.

4. Add marsala, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

5. Add broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer over low heat for about 35 minutes.

6. Remove from heat and discard bay leaf and garlic cloves.

7. Place bread on a baking sheet then broil for about 1-2 minutes per side until crispy and slightly browned.

8. Place 4 ovenproof serving bowls on baking sheet and divide soup evenly.

9. Top each bowl with 1 piece of bread, 2 slices of mozzarella, and 1/4 cup of Gruyere cheese.

10. Return to oven and broil 1-3 minutes until cheese is melted.

11. Serve and enjoy!

Tips:

• Don't have any Marsala wine on hand? Go ahead and buy a bottle to keep on hand. Marsala wine is fortified so it has a longer shelf life making it ideal for storage and cooking.

• Although most of the alcohol evaporates when cooking, you can opt for a non-alcoholic substitute. Try combining 1/2 cup of white grape juice, 2 TBSP vanilla extract, and 4 TBSP sherry vinegar, or simple add some extra broth to your dish.