Happy New Year French Onion Soup

Mark and I decided to start a new "New Year" tradition, French onion soup!  It is such a simple recipe with simple ingredients, but it yields such complex flavors.

Ingredients
2T olive oil
3lbs yellow onions
1 pinch of sugar
1T scant all purpose flour
3/4 cup good quality dry vermouth or dry white wine
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
7 cups beef stock
Salt & pepper
Toast rounds
Shredded gruyere cheese

Peel onions, cut off root end and slice thinly on a mandoline.  Drizzle the olive oil in the bottom of a large French oven over medium/ low heat.  Place sliced onions in the pot and sprinkle with pinch of sugar.  Saute slowly for 30-45 minutes or until carmelized.  Sprinkle the onions with flour and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the dry vermouth and cook for another 5 minutes.  Add the worcestershire & beef broth and simmer for another 35 minutes to let the flavors meld.  Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Spoon soup into bowls, top with toast rounds, sprinkle with shredded gruyere and place bowls under broiler until cheese is bubbly.  Serve immediately.

Happy New Year!