Winter vegetable soup recipe

Ingredients

• For the Soup
• 25g butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 spring onions, chopped
• 2 sticks celery, finely sliced
• ½ butternut, peeled and cut into small chunks
• 2 carrots, cut into small chunks
• 1 sweet potato, cut into small chunks
• 1 leek, sliced
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks
• 85g pearl barley
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 litre vegetable or chicken stock
• For the Topping
• 100g mature Cheddar, grated
• 12 slices sourdough bread, halved
• 4-5 sprigs thyme, leaves only