Vegetable Corn Chowder

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 cups vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups cubed, peeled potatoes

1 cup carrot slices

1 can (15 ounces) creamed corn

1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (your favorite bean will also work)

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Heat oil over medium heat and add onion and celery. Cook and stir for 3 minutes, until crisp-tender.  Add vegetable stock and salt & bring to a boil over high heat. (You may wish to add the salt at the very end after tasting the chowder. Depending on your stock, corn choice, etc. you may not need any salt at all.)  Add potatoes and carrot. Reduce heat to medium-low. Then simmer, covered for 10 minutes (or until potatoes and carrot are tender).  Stir in corn, beans, pepper, and poppy seeds. Simmer -- again, covered -- for 10 minutes (or until heated through).  Whisk milk into cornstarch in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir into vegetable mixture.  Simmer -- uncovered -- until thickened.