French Onion Soup

I love, love, love soup.  I would eat soup every day if there only weren't hundreds of other foods I want to keep trying.  The other night I referred to a cookbook I've had for years and years, but have never actually ever cooked anything from it.  It was one of those bargain books at Barnes and Noble, and I think I bought it when I lived in Utah -- NINE years ago.  It's about time I checked it out.

One of the first recipes I turned to in this book was the Classic French Onion Soup.  I used to love French Onion Soup, but at restaurants it's most likely always going to be made with chicken or beef broth.  This recipe actually called for vegetable broth, but I went one step further and found a vegan beef broth instead!  YUM! 

I also added three garlic cloves to give it a little extra kick.  Here is the official recipe, adapted from the Vegetarian Cookbook by Linda Fraser.

Ingredients:
3 large onions (I used one white, one yellow, and one red)
2 tablespoons safflower oil
2 tablespoons Earth Balance vegan butter spread
3 3/4 cups No Beef Base (see above)
Salt and pepper to taste
French bread

Directions:
Slice the onions into small slices and chunks.

Heat the oil and buttery spread in a deep saucepan.

Saute the onions on high heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly

Reduce the heat and cook the onions for 45 minutes.  Stir occasionally at first, but as they begin to soften and turn darker, stir more often.  They should be a dark golden color when they're ready to add to the soup. 

Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, prepare the No Beef Base and water. 

When the onions are ready, add them to the "beef' broth and add a little salt and pepper.  Simmer for around thirty minutes. 

Toast or grill the French bread and eat with the soup when ready!

This soup is so good you'll never be able to eat the stuff at restaurants again.  Will and I polished off the entire pot and licked the bowls clean.