30-Minute Pea and Asparagus Soup

From the Reader's Digest 30-Minute Cookbook. I chose to try making this recipe because of the tantalizing photo in the book, and it was every bit as good as the picture promised -- but the BEST thing about it is, there's no pre-prep prep! Anything that gets chopped or measured can be done during cooking time. If you have a hand blender, this is easy-peasy stuff. Before preparing your other ingredients, it's best to start the stock heating first, so it boils as soon as possible. That's what makes this such a quick and easy recipe.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 cups  chicken stock or 2 1⁄2 cups  vegetable stock
• 8 -9  green onions
• 1  lb  frozen peas
• 12  small asparagus spears
•  salt and black pepper
• 3  slices  rindless streaky bacon
• 1 -2  tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 2  slices  day-old white bread (we used fresh French bread instead)
• 3  tablespoons  whipped cream (we used 2 slices French goat cheese instead)

Directions

1. Pour the stock into a 2 qt/2 L pot and set on the stove over high heat. (If you work quickly, cover the pot to boil even quicker.) Rinse the green onions, trim and chop them roughly, add them to the stock with the frozen peas, and bring to a boil.
2. Rinse the asparagus spears, remove the tips and set aside. Roughly chop the stems (you can use the whole stem as it's all going to be pureed) and add them to the saucepan with a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer 10-15 minutes, or until asparagus is tender.
3. Meanwhile, snip the bacon slices directly into a hot frying pan and fry until crisp and golden. Transfer these to a plate and set aside for garnish.
4. If there is not enough bacon fat left in the pan for frying, add 1-2 tablespoons of oil and heat. Cut the bread into small dice and fry for 2-3 minutes over high heat, turning frequently, until golden, then set aside to drain on kitchen paper (paper towel) for garnish.
5. When the peas and asparagus are done, blend or process the soup to a puree. You can use a hand blender to blend the soup right in the pot. Just be sure to keep it pointing down and keep the entire head of the blender under the surface of the soup (to avoid spraying yourself with hot green liquid!).
6. Add the reserved asparagus tips to the pea soup and simmer for 5 minutes, or until tender.
7. Pour the soup into warmed serving bowls. Swirl a little whipped cream into each (we set a round of goat cheese on the surface of the soup, so it melted in a bit) and sprinkle with the crispy bacon pieces, croutons, and some freshly ground black pepper to serve.