Baked Potato Soup

This recipe came from my sister Heather.

2 large potatoes – baked and diced
3 T butter
1 c diced onion 2 T flour
4 cups chicken broth
2 c water
¼ c cornstarch
1 ½ c instant mashed potatoes
1 t salt
¾ t pepper
½ t basil
1/8 t thyme
1 c milk

Garnish
½ c shredded cheddar cheese
¼ c crumbled cooked bacon
2 chopped green onions

Melt butter in a large saucepan, and sauté onion until light brown. Add the flour to the onions and stir. Add chicken broth, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes, and spices to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add chopped, baked potato and milk to the saucepan, bring soup back to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer until thick. Spoon soup into bowls, and top with about 1 T shredded cheddar cheese, ½ T crumbled bacon, and about a tsp of chopped green onion. (Serves 8)