French Onion Soup

The recipe featured by "OOdles of Recipes" is a Classic.

Listed after the recipe are changes you can try. Some to make it healthier with less fat--others for personal taste preference.

Classic French Onion Soup

• 3 large Spanish onion (3 cups when sliced)
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) butter or margarine, melted
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) all-purpose flour
• 7 ¼ cups ready-to-serve beef broth
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sugar
• ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) pepper
• 8 slices (¾" thick) French bread, lightly toasted, buttered and sliced into triangles
• 8 slices Swiss Cheese

Mix the flour, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and pepper .

If soup is in frypan or pot, turn it into a large baking dish or 6 large individual baking dishes. Top each bowl with bread triangles and cheese.

Broil just until the cheese melts.

Variations:

1. Sauté sliced onions in 2 tablespoons of dry sherry, dry wine or nonalcoholic wine.
2. Use 8 beef bouillon cubes and 8 cups of hot water in the place of ready-to-serve beef broth.
3. Replace Swiss Cheese slices with 1 cup (4 ounces) finely shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese ore ¾ cup (175 ml) mozzarella and 2 tablespoons (30 ml)grated Light Parmesan cheese
4. Add ¼ teaspoon of garlic salt or 1 small clove of minced garllic.
5. Place bread slices on a cookie sheet, top with cheese and broil until cheese melts. Add bread-cheese slices to soup when serving.
6. Sprinkle each serving with sliced onion tops

This recipe can also be prepared in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Method

Mix onions and margarine in slow cooker Cover and cook on high heat setting 30 to 35 minutes or until onions begin to slightly brown around edges.
Mix Worcestershire sauce, sugar and pepper. Stir flour mixture and broth into onions. Cover and cook on high heat setting 3 to 4 hours or until onions are very tender. Serve with Cheesey Broiled French Bread.

Makes 8 servings.