Yields 4-6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

3 Jars of Bellisari’s Balsamic Shallot and Black Garlic Spread

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, picked and chopped or poultry seasoning

1 bay leaf, fresh or dried

1/2 cup dry sherry

5 cups beef stock

4 thick slices crusty bread, toasted

2 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese

Directions

Heat a deep pot over medium to medium high heat. Pour in the jars of Bellisari’s Balsamic Shallot and Black Garlic Spread. Add oil and butter to the pot. Season with salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Cook 15 to 18 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender, sweet and caramel colored. Add bay leaf and sherry to the pot and deglaze the pan drippings. Add 5 cups stock and cover pot to bring soup up to a quick boil.

Arrange 4 small, deep soup bowls or crocks on a cookie sheet. Preheat broiler to high. Once soup reaches a boil, ladle it into bowls. Float toasted crusty bread on soup and cover each bowl with a mound of cheese. Sprinkle remaining fresh thyme on cheese and place cookie sheet with soup bowls on it under hot broiler until cheese melts and bubbles.