Hearty Vegetable Soup

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

1 cup soup mix
2 cups water
1 ounce (30 g) butter
2 onions, finely chopped
8 ounces (250 g) bacon, finely chopped
2 sticks celery, sliced
2 large carrots, sliced
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
4 cups chicken stock
1 bunch spinach, shredded

Microwave Method:

1. Place soup mix and water in a large dish. Cover and cook for 5 minutes on HIGH. Allow to stand for 1 hour.
2. Place soup mix and 2 cups boiling water in a 2-quart (2-litre) casserole dish, cover and cook for 18-22 minutes on HIGH, until tender.
3. Mix butter, onions and bacon in a 3-quart (3-litre) casserole dish. Cook for 4-5 minutes on HIGH.
4. Stir in celery, carrots, turmeric, chicken stock and soup mix.
5. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes on HIGH, stirring halfway through cooking.
6. Stir in spinach. Cover and cook a further 5-10 minutes on HIGH. If the soup is too thick an extra 2 cups of chicken stock may be added.