Baked potato soup with cheddar cheese

1 1/2 lb baking potatoes

1/4 cup butter

2 cups yellow onion - diced

1/3 cup non-bleached flour

5 cups vegetable stock

1 cup instant potato flakes

3/4 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce

2 cups milk

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Prick washed potatoes & bake until a fork pierces to the center easily. Remove potatoes from oven & allow to fully cool. Remove skin & cut potatoes into 1/2″ cubes. Set aside. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions & saute over low heat for 10 minutes or until onions are translucent. Don't allow onions to burn. Add flour to onions & butter and cook 4 - 5 minutes, stirring well until flour is absorbed. In a separate container, vegetable stock, potato flakes & seasonings. Stir or whisk thoroughly to eliminate lumps. Add slowly to onion mixture, stirring constantly so no lumps form. Increase to medium heat & continue cooking until the soup begins to gently simmer. Add milk, stirring until smooth & lightly thickened. Simmer for 15 minutes. Do not boil. Soup should just simmer lightly. Add cubed baked potatoes & stir to combine. Remove from heat & serve. Top each serving with grated cheddar cheese.