French Onion Soup

I love French Onion Soup. However, over the years, I've never been able to make a really good French Onion Soup because I can't seem to do a good homemade beef broth (I got chicken down pat). I came across this book several years ago at Half Price Bookstore by Bob Bowersox, resident chef at QVC (Shopping Channel). Bob has a lot of experience as a chef having owned several restaurants, which he gave up to take up his post at QVC. The book, In The Kitchen With Bob: My Family's Best, is a compendium of his family's favorite recipes. His Dad's version of French Onion Soup is absolutely wonderful and just uses Swanson's Beef Broth. The secret is the caramelizing of the slow cooked onions. You can use chicken broth in this recipe, but then it's not French Onion, right?

Bowersox Onion Soup

8 medium to large purple onions (I used Vadalia)
4 tablespoons butter
2 10-3/4 ounce cans concentrated beef broth
1-1/2 cans of water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 loaf French bread, cut into 2" thick rounds
Mozzarella or Provolone (Dad's choice) cheese, thinly-sliced grated Parmesan cheese

1- Cut the onions into 3/8" slices, then cut the slices in half
2- In a 4-quart stockpot or Dutch oven, saute the onions in the butter. Do this very slowly, over a medium heat until deep, dark brown, with a thickened, almost caramelized texture without being burned. This can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes.
3- Add the broth, water, salt and Worcestershire sauce and simmer until hot. Preheat the broiler.
4- Place 1 piece of the French bread in individual ramekins or high-sided, broiler-safe bowls. Ladle the soup over the bread until it is covered and the soup is near the top of the ramekin or bowls. Cover the ramekins or bowls with the cheese, and place under the broiler until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown on top. Serve with the grated cheese to sprinkle over the top. Makes 4-6 servings.

Here is a link to many of his other recipes. He has some of the best sauces I have ever tasted!
http://www.qvc.com/cd/cd_recipes_bowersox_111203.html?tmp=ddsn&cont=recipes