Beefy French Onion Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 small onions, cut in half and thinly sliced (about 7 cups)
1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
3 cans condensed beef consomme
1/4 cup dry sherry or 1/4 cup apple juice
1 cup apple juice
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
8 slices French bread, toasted (1/2 inch thick)
2 cups shredded swiss cheese

Preparation

Add onions and butter to a 5 to 6 quart crock-pot; toss to coat.
Top with bay leaves and beef.
Cover and cook on LOW for 9-10 hours or until the onions are deep brown in color.
Mix together the beef consomme, sherry, apple juice, and thyme in a bowl.
Pour into crock-pot; increase setting to HIGH.
Cover and cook 10 minutes or until hot.
Take out bay leaves.
Spoon soup into oven-proof soup bowls.
Top each with a slice of toast and 1/4 cup shredded cheese.
If you want, broil 6 inches from heat source for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and begins to brown.