Chicken Pot Soup

Ingredients

4 cups shredded chicken
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp dried mixed herbs sub for Italian seasoning or Herb de Provence
3 tbsp all-purpose flour is also known as plain flour
1 bay leaf
1 thyme sprig remove from stalk
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1/3 cup half and a half substitute with semi-skimmed milk or dairy-free milk of choice
2½ cups chicken broth or as needed
Salt and pepper to taste