French Onion Soup

I love French Onion Soup.  It is one of my favorite soups in the whole world.  Here is a basic recipe for making it.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 2 14 1/2-ounce cans beef broth
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• Bay leaf
• French baguette, sliced and toasted
• 1 cup grated Swiss cheese or Gruyere

Directions:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. 
• Add onions and cook until golden brown, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. 
• Mix in the broth, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Heat to a boil and then remove from heat. Discard the bay leaf. 
• Season to taste with pepper. 
• Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Refrigerate. Rewarm soup before continuing.

Now you can finish this off one of two ways.

• The first is to ladle the soup into broiler proof bowls.  Place the toasted baguettes on top o the soup and sprinkle with Swiss cheese.  Broil this until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.

• The second way is to ladle the soup into bowls and top with toasted baguettes.  When toasting the baguettes, place the cheese on top so that it melts onto the toast.