French Onion Soup with Cheese toast

My kids love French Onion Soup, but I think they just really like the cheese toast that we serve with it.  I use Crock Pot cooked Caramelized onions, so that cuts a step out of the process, and we can have it as a week night dinner.

French Onion Soup with Cheese Toast

1 batch of Caramelized onions.

4 cups Chicken broth (I use better then bouillon)

4 cups Beef Broth (better bouillon again but in beef flavour)

1 star anise

1 bay leaf

1/4 cup Sherry

salt and pepper to taste

balsamic vinegar to taste, optional

Baguette

Gruyere cheese, grated about 1 cup

Place all ingredients (except baguette and cheese) in pot and simmer, about 1 hour( or less if you are in a rush)

Shortly before the soup is finished, slice the baguette in to thin slices, and toast under the broiler until lightly golden.

Remove pan from oven, turn the slices over and generously sprinkle with the gruyere cheese, place back under the broiler until the cheese is melted, golden if you like it that way or less if you don't want it too crispy.  

Serve soup and place the cheese toast in the soup.  Yum