Souper Easy Loaded Potato Soup

5 Large Baking potatoes

1/4 cup butter
1 medium onion chopped
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 quart half and half
3 cups milk
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground white pepper

1 1/4 cups (5 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
8 fully cooked bacon slices crumbled
Garnish- sliced green onions

Prick each potato several times with a fork. Arrange potatoes 1 inch apart in microwave on paper towels. Microwave at HIGH about 20 minutes, turning and rearranging after 10. Let cool.

Peel potatoes and coarsely mash with a fork.

Melt butter in a large pan (Dutch oven if you have one) over medium heat: add onion, and saute until tender. Add flour, stirring until smooth. Stir in potatoes, half and half, and next three ingredients, cook over low heat about fifteen minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Top each serving with cheese and bacon and garnish with green onion if desired.