Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

INGREDIENTS:

6 tablespoons butter 4 large yellow onions, sliced and separated into rings 1 tablespoon white sugar 2 cloves garlic, minced 7 cups reduced-sodium beef broth 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1 bay leaf 8 slices of French bread 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese 1/3 cup shredded Emmental cheese 1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Heat butter in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat; cook and stir onions until they become translucent, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle onions with sugar; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until onions are soft and browned, at least 30 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
2.	Stir sherry into onion mixture and scrape bottom of pot to dissolve small bits of browned food from the pot. Transfer onions into a slow cooker and pour in beef broth. Season to taste with sea salt; stir in thyme and bay leaf. Cover cooker, set on High, and cook 4 to 6 hours. If desired, set on Low and cook 8 to 10 hours.
3.	About 10 minutes before serving, set oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet.
4.	Broil bread slices until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
5.	Combine Gruyere, Emmental, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses in a bowl, tossing lightly. Fill oven-safe soup crocks 3/4 full of onion soup and float a bread slice in each bowl. Top with about 2 tablespoons of cheese mixture per serving.
6.	Place filled bowls onto a baking sheet and broil until cheese topping is lightly browned and bubbling, about 2 minutes.

Slow Cooker Cuban Braised Beef and Peppers

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m| Total Time: 8hr 30m

Ingredients

• 1  28-ounce can  diced tomatoes, drained
• 2  red bell peppers, sliced 1/2 inch thick
• 1  onion, cut into 8 wedges
• 2  teaspoons  dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon  ground cumin
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 1/2  pounds  flank steak, cut crosswise into thirds
• 1  cup  long-grain white rice
• 1  avocado, sliced
• 1/4  cup  fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1. In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, oregano, cumin, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Nestle the steak among the vegetables. Cook, covered, until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily, on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.
2. Twenty-five minutes before serving, cook the rice according to the package directions.
3. Using two forks, shred the beef and mix it into the cooking liquid. Serve with the rice and top with the avocado and cilantro.