Austrian Homestyle Generic Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 3 tablespoons flour
• all-purpose
• 1 1/2 pints water
• 3 1/2 teaspoons beef flavor base
• 2 tablespoons onions chopped
• 1 medium carrots diced
• 2 cups broccoli florets or cauliflower
• cut into pieces
• 1 medium potatoes peeled and diced

Instructions

1. Melt butter over medium heat.
2. Add flour, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes puffy.
3. Add water, bouillon powder, onions, potatoes and carrots.
4. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
5. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are almost done (about 5 to 6 minutes).
6. Add broccoli and return to boil.
7. Simmer for another minute.
8. Makes 3 large servings (which with a chunk of French bread or the like would make a hearty meal, quantity-wise. )
9. VARIATIONS: For thinner soup, use less flour.
10. For vegetables with a more delicate flavor, use less bouillon powder.
11. If using sliced mushrooms, asparagus and frozen or fresh green peas as vegetables, use slightly less flour, slightly less bouillon powder, and a dash of sugar.
12. (Start with the asparagus, adding peas and mushrooms when asparagus is almost done.
13. No onion in that one, BTW, it would overwhelm the other flavors. )
14. If all you've got is potatoes and onions, add quarter teaspoon caraway seeds early on (when you reduce to simmering).