GARLIC SOUP Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Tbls.olive oil
• 2 Tbls. butter
• 2 lbs. onions, about 4, chopped
• 2 cups garlic cloves, about 4 large heads, chopped
• 2 Qts. chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 loaf day-old French bread (about 1/4 lb.),cut into chunks
• 1 bouquet garni: 6 parsley stems, 9 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 1/2 tsp. dried, and 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups half and half
• 1/4 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
• Croutons, optional