Caramelized Onion And Shiitake Soup With Gruyere Blue Cheese Food

CARAMELIZED ONION AND SHIITAKE SOUP WITH GRUYERE-BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• SOUP: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 15 minutes or until almost tender, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and cook 40 minutes or until onions are a deep golden brown. Stir occasionally.
• Increase heat to medium, add mushrooms, and cook 10 minutes or until they are tender. Stir frequently. Stir in garlic and thyme sprigs and cook for 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add wine to pan. Cook 2 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add both cans of broth to pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in salt & pepper and discard thyme sprigs.
• TOASTS: Preheat broiler. Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Top each piece with 1 tsp Gruyère and 1 tsp Gorgonzola. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese has melted. Sprinkle a little chopped thyme over each piece of toast.
• TO SERVE: Ladle about 1 cup of soup into each of 6 bowls and top each serving with 2 pieces of toast.

FRENCH ONION SOUP WITH CROUTONS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• I a medium sauscepan, melt butter over medium-low heat; sauté mushrooms, onion and thyme, if using for 10-12 minutes or until lightly csaramelized.
• Stir in flour to absorb butter; slowly stir in cream, Increase heat to high, sitr in stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until flavours are blended. (to make ahead, prepare the soup up to this point, let cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 day. Reheat gently until hot and proceed as follows).
• Lightly toast baguette slices in a toaster; set aside. Preheat broiler. Place ovenproof soup bowls on baking sheet and ladle soup into bowls. Top each bowl with two baguette slices and sprinkle with Gruyère and blue cheeses. Broil for about 2 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly. Place bowls on serving plates with chopped chives. Be sure to warn your guests the bowl is ultra hot.