Cream of Pimento Soup

From Southern Living. Quick soup that's really good with a grilled cheese sandwich.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Yields: 3 3/4 cups

Ingredients

• 1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimentos, undrained
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons flour
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can  ready-to-serve chicken broth
• 1 1⁄2 cups half-and-half
• 2  teaspoons  grated onions
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  hot sauce
•  sour cream (optional)

Directions

1. Place pimento in container of an electric blender and process until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides. Set pimento aside.
2. Melt butter in heavy saucepan over low heat; add flour and stir until flour mixture is smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Add chicken broth and half-and-half gradually to flour mixture, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until broth mixture is thickened and bubbly.
4. Stir in pimento, onion, salt, and hot sauce; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thoroughly heated.
5. Garnish with sour cream, if desired.