Gary's French Onion Soup

I was checking out some of my favorite chefs on the Food Network to see their recipes for French Onion Soup. This is one of my husband's favorite soups and my current recipe is not that good. I wanted to come up with something that he would really like. I took some of their ideas and added a few of my own and this is what I came up with. It was a hit with my husband. Very rich and satisfying. We had a combination salad with the soup.....it hit the spot!

1 Pkg. beef short ribs (4-5 ribs)
5 beef bouillon cube
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon of thyme
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
8 sweet onions or 8 white onions, sliced 1/4 inch thick, then ring them
1 stick of butter
2-3 tablespoons flour
1 cup to 1 1/2 cups wine (red or white)
16 ounces Gruyere cheese
1 loaf crusty French bread (long skinny French bread) cut in 1/2 inch slices

Put beef short ribs in about 6 to 8 cups of water with bouillon cubes, bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce and cook on medium to low heat until the beef ribs are tender. Remove ribs and bay leaf from broth.

Now melt one stick of butter and add sliced onion and garlic and thyme to butter and cook the onions slow and low until they are caramelized. It will take 15-20 minutes for them to start of caramelize or turn golden brown. After they are caramelized stir in 3 tablespoons of flour and cook the flour with the onions for about 5 minutes. Now add your wine and stir well. Then add your beef broth from the ribs let it warm up a little and taste it to see if it needs more salt. Then let the soup come to a boil and then turn off the heat.

Take the sliced French bread and toast until golden brown. Ladle the soup into large soup bowls that are oven proof. Put two slices of bread on top of soup and top with at least 1/2 cup of Gruyere cheese. Put under broiler in the oven until cheese has melted and just a little golden. Be sure and don't burn yourself. Those bowls are really hot. Put something under them on your table.