Vegetable Soup

In Redwall, all the creatures standing sentry on the walls love the vegetable soup Cornflower brings to them. This is quite satisfying, with so many different textures and flavors, every spoonful is different.

2 Tbls. butter
2 Tbls. flour*
3 cups water or vegetable stock
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup carrots, chopped
1 1/4 cup potatoes, cut into largish chunks
2 Tbls. grated cheddar cheese
2 Tbls. minced bell peppers
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. mint
1 tsp. fennel leaves
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
1 tsp. basil
pinch of lavender buds
1 cup (packed) spinach
1/2 cup cauliflower florets, chopped

*I used whole wheat flour, but there are plenty of alternatives, such as nut flour, corn meal, corn starch, potato starch, bean flour, oat flour.

Melt the butter and the flour together over medium heat. Stir in the water/vegetable stock and whisk. Add the salt, carrots, potatoes, cheese, and bell pepper. Simmer until the potatoes are soft. (This takes a while.)

Add all the rest of the ingredients, and cook until the spinach is wilted and shrunk.