Cattle Company'S Loaded Baked Potato Soup

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 cup instant mashed potatoes
• 1/8 teaspoon basil
• 1 dash Tabasco sauce
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1 medium onion
• 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lb potato, peeled, cooked, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• shredded cheddar cheese
• crumbled cooked bacon (or bacon bits)
• sour cream
• chopped green onion

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter and saute onion, but do not brown.Add the flour to make a roux, and cook and stir for 5 minutes.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the chicken stock, instant potatoes, salt, basil, pepper and tabasco.
3. Gradually add to the roux mixture, stirring and bringing to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring often.
4. Add the diced potatoes to the soup, continue to simmer 5-10 minutes, stirring carefully without mashing the potatoes.
5. Add cream as desired for consistency.
6. Garnish: Top individual bowls of soup with cheese, bacon, sour cream and onions.

butter, flour, instant mashed potatoes, basil, tabasco sauce, onion, chicken stock, salt, pepper, potato, cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, green onion

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/cattle-companys-loaded-baked-potato-soup-395764 (may not work)