onion soup with cheese croutes

lovely, aromatic, comforting soup...adapted from Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews and Onions by Brian Glover...

100g butter

6 onions peeled and sliced

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp rosemary and thyme

1.5 litres beef stock

salt and black pepper to taste

1/2 baguette cut into 2 cm slices

2 cloves garlic, peeled

mozarella/parmesan/cheddar cheese

• melt butter in a large pan, add the onions and stew for 20 min until soft. turn up the heat and add the garlic, stirring for 2 min
• add in the sugar and herbs. reduce the heat and simmer for 45min-1 hour, stirring occasionally until the onions are nice and caramelized.
• bring the stock to boil in another pan, gradually pour into the onions. season with salt and pepper. simmer for another 10-20 min
• meanwhile preheat the oven to 150 degree celcius. place the slices of bread on a greased baking tray and bake for 15 min. rub the bread with the cut surface of garlic, then sprinkle with cheese over the slices.
• float the coutes on the soup the grill until the cheese melts.
• serve immediately