French Onion Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs onions, very thinly sliced
3 shallots, finely diced
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon cognac
1/2 cup red wine
3 cups beef stock
salt and pepper
4 1/2 slices vienna bread, roasted in oven until dry
1 cup gruyere cheese, for garnish

Preparation

Melt the butter in a soup pot and saute the onions until very soft, at least 20 minutes.
Add the Cognac and the wine and cook for one minute.
Add the stock. Simmer, covered, 45 minutes.
Check the seasonings.
Ladle into oven-proof soup bowls and set on a baking sheet. Top each with a croute (roasted Vienna bread).
Sprinkle the top generously with cheese. Broil in oven until the top is lightly brown, about 2 minutes.