The BEST french onion soup

Our family has been on a soup kick lately. I think it's just the transition from winter to spring. The weather's getting warmer but it's still cool enough to enjoy soup for dinner. I have had this recipe for quite some time, I don't remember where I came across the recipe initially, however I've ended up tweaking a lot of different things to suit it to our families liking. We definitely consider this the best French onion soup ever! The recipe as written below will serve two, this could be easily doubled to feed a family of four.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 C butter

2 large onions, chopped

2 gloves garlic, diced

1 bay leaf

2 fresh thyme sprigs

1/2 C red wine

1 1/2 T flour

1 quart beef broth (about four cups)

Sliced provolone

Sliced bread*

Melt butter in dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Cook for about 25 minutes until onions are soft and caramelized. 

Add the wine and bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook about 5 minutes or until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry. 

Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle flour over onions and stir, reduce heat to medium low and cook for 10 minutes to remove flour taste. 

Add beef broth and bring soup to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper if necessary. Simmer for 10 minutes.

When ready to eat layer bread slices in single layer on baking sheet. Toast until golden under broiler. Place bread toasted side down in soup bowl, add sliced provolone on top and broil until golden brown. Let rest until cooled enough to eat! 

*You can use most any bread you prefer. We have used what we've had on hand, we've even used croutons!