French Onion Soup

French onion soup can be a little fussy, time-consuming, and tear-inducing, but if you've got a few hours on a rainy Saturday, there are few better ways to spend it than in the pursuit of this classic, comforting gratineé.

Shopping List:
3lb bag Spanish onions
48 ounces high-quality beef broth
Fresh parsley
Fresh thyme
Fresh garlic
Black peppercorns
Cloves (optional)
Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
Olive oil
Dry sherry
Day-old baguette
Kosher Salt
Gruyere cheese
Chives