Onion & Fennel Soup Gratin Pg 57

Ina has another winner here! Over the years, I have probably tried 10 different onion soup recipes and this is the best by far. Maybe the sherry, brandy AND white wine have something to do with it, but I'm sure it's just the addition of the fennel. This was easy to make, but does require some time. By the time you caramelize the onions and fennel, simmer after each addition of spirits, broth and seasonings, this soup took about 90 minutes to make, but it's well worth the time. Ina says to remove the crusts from the bread, but that's my favorite part, so I disobeyed. Also, 6 oz of Gruyere wasn't enough for the whole recipe (we are cheese lovers). If you have a well stocked liquor cabinet - go for it. This was so good to have on hand during the blizzard.