Cream of Potato-and-Onion Soup

This soup is a wonderful cross between French Onion Soup and Creamy Chunky Potato Soup. But no matter what you call it, it's comfort in a bowl.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 large sweet onions, chopped (about 5 cups)
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (32 ounce) chicken broth
1 (32 ounce) package frozen Southern-style cubed hash browns
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1 cup half-and-half
Garnishes: thinly sliced banana pepper, chopped fresh basil

Directions:
1. Melt butter with oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and sugar. Cook, stirring often, 45 to 50 minutes or until onions are caramel colored.

2. Sprinkle onions with flour, and stir to coat. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook 20 minutes. Add hash browns and 2 cups water. Reduce heat to low, add thyme and next 3 ingredients, and simmer 30 minutes.

3. Stir in cheese and half-and-half; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove bay leaf before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Adapted from Southern Living October 2010