Applebee's French Onion Soup

1. Preheat oven to 165°C (325°F).
2. In a large heavy-bottomed soup pot, heat the oil and saute the onions over medium-low heat, stirring only a few times, until they begin to brown, about 15 minutes (see note). Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute until very fragrant. Raise the heat, add the beef stock, water, salt and pepper and bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
3. While the soup is cooking, slice the crown top off each hamburger bun, giving you 10 rounds of approximately the same size. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
4. Remove and change the oven to broil.
5. When the soup is cooked, taste and adjust the seasonings as desired (see note).
6. Ladle the soup into individual bowls, top each with a crouton, then with a slice of Provolone and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Broil about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and beginning to turn golden brown. Sprinkle each with a bit more Parmesan and serve immediately.

Notes:

• To increase the sweet onion flavor, you may extend the cooking time to 25 minutes or longer, but watch the pot so the onions get a lovely gold caramel color and do not burn and turn bitter. Stir only occasionally so they brown evenly.
• For a deep, rich beefy flavor, use the best beef broth possible. You can also add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and/or soy sauce; you will not taste them, but they add a deep meaty flavor.