Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  4        tablespoons  butter or margarine
  5             medium  yellow onions -- very thinnly sliced
     1/8      teaspoon  sugar
  2        tablespoons  flour
  5               cups  low sodium beef broth
     1/2      teaspoon  dried thyme -- crumbled
  1                     bay leaf
     1/4      teaspoon  black pepper
  8             slices  toasted french bread -- about 1/2 inch
                        -- thick
  1                cup  grated swiss or gruyere cheese
     1/4           cup  grated parmesan cheese

Preparation:

In a large, heavy saucepan melt butter over moderate heat; add the onions and cook, uncovered carefully stirring until golden - 10 to 15 minutes. Blend in sugar and flour; cook, stirring, 3 minutes longer. Add broth, thyme, bay leaf and pepper; raise heat to moderately high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly - about 6 minutes. Adjust heat so mixture bubbles gnetly and simmer, partly covered, for 30 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf. Heat broiler. Ladle soup into 4 flameproof bowls. Float 2 pieces of bread in each bowl and distribute cheeses evenly over top. Place bowls in broiler, 4 to 6 inches from heat. Broil until golden - about 2 minutes.

Nutritional Information:

255 Calories (kcal); 13g Total Fat; (45% calories from fat); 18g Protein; 18g Carbohydrate; 35mg Cholesterol; 265mg Sodium