Turnip and Bacon Soup

Sorry chocolate lovers......I promise the next post will be about chocolate! I can't seem to get enough soup at this time of year.  This recipe produces an excellent soup and comes from the lovely Kerry at Rocket and Rhubarb. 
Enjoy!

Ingredients (All vegetables supplied by Rocket and Rhubarb)

25g butter
125g rindless smoked bacon, roughly chopped
1 onion, roughly chopped
400g potatoes, chopped
750g turnips, chopped
1.2 litres chicken stock
150ml milk (or you could use single cream for a creamier finish)
1 bay leaf
1 small sprig of thyme, chopped or 1tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper

Method

Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan, add the bacon and cook over a moderate heat until crisp and golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve leaving the lovely bacon-flavoured in a pan.

Add the onion to the bacon fat and cook gently for 5 minutes. Then add the potatoes and turnips. Cook for a further 5 minutes.

Add the stock and the bay leaf and thyme and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 30-35 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove and discard the bay leaf.

Two service options:

If you like a chunky soup then lightly mash to keep it chunky or.......

In a blender or food processor, blend the soup in batches until smooth, then transfer to a clean saucepan. Add the reserved bacon and the milk and reheat very gently but do not boil. Serve the soup in warm bowls and sprinkle with a little finely chopped parsley if you have some....well I didn't!

Delicious!

Ready to eat in 45 minutes