Yummy Potato Soup

2-3 potatoes baked
3 T butter
1 cup onion chopped
2 T flour
4 Cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup instant mashed potatoes
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp basil
1 cup half and half... or can do 1/2 cup one percent milk and 1/2 cup evaporated milk
Melt butter and saute onions until brown. Add flour to onions and cook 1-2 mins add broth, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins. Cut baked potatoes in half scoring into cubes... I like to mash mine. Scoop out the cubes into the soup. Add milk and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Top with cheese, green onions, bacon and sour cream... of course if you want to =)

recipe from Just Another Day in Paradise