What's for dinner?

Ok... so if you saw the post here, then you know that the kids and I toured a cheese factory.  A Gouda factory to be more specific.  The cheese is amazing.. made from raw milk and aged from 6 months on up.  We brought home a wedge that was over a year old.  When I got home with my cheese, I wanted to make something real special with it.  I decided to make Dutch Onion Soup.  It's very much like French Onion Soup, but the cheese is the yummy Gouda instead of Provolone, Swiss.... or whatever you prefer to top your onion soup with.  Now, when I made mine, I added some grated Mozzarella cheese to it because I love my soup cheesey cheesey!

It turned out super yummy, both kids loved it.  Yes... you read that right.  My KIDS loved ONION soup.  Try it.  You'll like it too.  And if you don't, I'll come take it off your hands.  (^o^)/"

Ingredients

• 4 sweet onions or large yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
• ¹/₂ cup port wine
• 6 cups beef broth.  
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• ¹/₄ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 12 slices French bread (about 1/4-inch-thick)
• 1 ¹/₂ cups grated Gouda cheese (about 6 ounces)
• 1/2 cup of sliced or grated Mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a 6-quart saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 20 minutes or until they're golden brown, stirring often. Add the celery and cook and stir for 3 minutes.
2. Add the port, broth, thyme, bay leaves and black pepper to the saucepot, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
3. Heat the broiler. Place the bread slices onto a baking sheet 2 at a time, making 6 pairs in all. Sprinkle each pair with 1/4 cup cheese.
4. Broil 4 inches from the heat until the cheese is melted. Divide the soup among 6 bowls. Top with the bread and cheese.