Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Update: This entire pot of soup disappeared from my kitchen in less than 24 hours. I had one measly cup... the boys in the house loved it!
Another post about soup.  Can you tell I've been in a soup mood lately?  I set out to make a soup my entire family might be willing to try.   Here's what I came up with.

Ingredients:

1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic (3 really big cloves)

2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 cans (14.5 ounce size) chicken broth (low sodium, no MSG, reduced or fat free)
*** Reserve 1/4 cup of the chicken broth to mix with corn starch later)
2 pounds potatoes, peeled, and diced (about 5 medium sized potatoes)
2 tablespoons corn starch
1 cup fat-free half & half
Garnishes:  cooked diced turkey or pork bacon, croutons, grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add diced onions, salt, pepper, sugar, and dried Italian seasoning.  Cook the onions, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent (about 3 to 5 minutes).  Add the diced garlic and cook an additional minute, stirring frequently.  Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture and stir to coat; cook an additional minute.  Slowly whisk in all but 1/4 cup chicken broth. (Reserve the remaining 1/4 cup for use later).  Add in the potatoes.  Bring up to a boil, stirring frequently, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered for 20 to 30 minutes (until potatoes are desired tenderness). 

Place 1/4 cup chicken broth and corn starch in a jar with a lid.  Shake to dissolve corn starch.  Slowly stir in corn starch slurry and then slowly stir in the half and half.  Bring back up to a simmer and serve.  If desired, garnish with croutons, cooked crumbled (turkey or pork) bacon, and grated sharp cheddar cheese.  Sliced chives would also be good. 

I asked my boys if they'd like to try the soup and they agreed, although my son was a bit hesitant knowing I had added onions at the very beginning.  Both boys liked the soup and the add-in's.  I was putting the soup away and they both said, "Uh, can we have some more?"

SUCCESS!!!!