French Onion Soup

I've always loved french onion soup, but for some reason have never really tried to make it at home.  Well today I did it for the first time and fell in love.  This recipe in no way is my own, but it is beyond easy and so yummy!  I made side notes of anything I did differently, but I highly recommend it.  Enjoy!

• 2 lb medium onions, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced lengthwise
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme (I used 1 tsp dried thyme)
• 2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California  (I just used 1 dried bay leaf)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth (32 fl oz)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 (1/2-inch-thick) diagonal slices of baguette
• 1 (1/2-lb) piece Gruyère, Comte, or Emmental
• 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Cook onions, thyme, bay leaves, and salt in butter in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, uncovered, stirring frequently, until onions are very soft and deep golden brown, about 45 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in wine and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in broth, water, and pepper and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.

While soup simmers, put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.

Arrange bread in 1 layer on a large baking sheet and toast, turning over once, until completely dry, about 15 minutes.

Remove croûtes from oven and preheat broiler. Put crocks in a shallow baking pan.

Discard bay leaves and thyme from soup and divide soup among crocks, then float a croûte in each. Slice enough Gruyère (about 6 ounces total) with cheese plane to cover tops of crocks, allowing ends of cheese to hang over rims of crocks, then sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat until cheese is melted and bubbly, 1 to 2 minutes.

 Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/French-Onion-Soup-236714#ixzz1Zg66BZkg

Cooks note:  I did not have those cheeses or bread at home when I made this soup, but I did have deli sliced swiss and some croutons.  I sprinkled the soup with croutons and placed a slice of swiss on top before broiling it and it came out great.  Just an alternative to the original recipe.