French Onion Soup - onions

Method

• 1. Peel & slice onions thinly.
• 2. In lg soup pot, heat 3 Tbsp. butter w/oil & sugar. Add onion rings & cook over moderately low heat for 15-20 mins, stirring to brown evenly.
• 3. When onions are soft & golden brown, stir in beef stock gradually. Bring to the boil; lower heat & simmer gently, covered, for 1 hour. Soup should have reduced to about 2 pints.
• 4. 15 mins before soup is done, preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• 5. Toast baguette rounds and spread w/butter.
• 6. When soup is cooked, stir in brandy & French mustard; add salt & fresh ground pepper to taste.
• 7. Put a toasted round in each of 6 ovenproof soup bowls. Ladle soup & onion rings over the top; when the toast floats up to the surface, heat 2 Tbsp. of Gruyere cheese on each round.
• 8. Bake bowls of soup in the oven for 10-15 mins until cheese is golden brown & bubbling. Serve immediately.