Caramelized Onions

1/4 cup olive oil for frying onions
6 cup thinly sliced onions (approximately 3 pound)
6 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons fresh thyme or 1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper
Heat olive oil and add onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the moisture has evaporated and the mixture is very soft, almost smooth, and caramelized. This takes about 45 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper.