Chive and Bacon Damper

This damper is fantastic with a simple tomato soup.  However I made a simple chive damper without the bacon and the cheese to go with my Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup.  You can add what ever fresh herbs you like to this recipe or have it totally plain with a little butter and golden syrup drizzled over top.  It's very quick and easy to make.

Chive and Bacon Damper

2  bacon rashers fat trimmed off and chopped finely

2  cups flour

4  teaspoons baking powder

30g butter

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (tasty or colby)

2 tblsp finely chopped fresh chives (spring onions or ordinary onions)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

Cook bacon in pan until crisp then put on paper towel to drain.  Put flour in bowl add baking powder and rub in butter, add cheese, chives and bacon.  Add milk and enough water to mix to a soft sticky dough.  Turn dough onto floured surface, knead until smooth.  Shape dough into a long loaf shape (to make sure the centre cooks); place on flat tray lined with baking paper.  Mark a few cuts into the dough so it opens out a little while cooking and brush with a little extra milk.  Bake in moderately hot oven 190-200°C/375-400°F for approx. 25-35 mins.  Serve with butter and tomato soup.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

I have found this soup, and the way it's cooked, to be a life and time saver.  No more standing over the stove stirring in case the bottom of the pot is burning.  All you need is time to prepare and chop the vegetables.  I really didn't time how long I cooked it.  I put it in the pot at about 10am gave it a stir and turned it down to low at about 1pm and added the pasta one hour before serving which was around 6pm.  That's about it.  It doesn't require oil and if you wanted some of your vegies to be a little crisper like green beans and capsicum, save them till last before putting in the pot, it gives a little crunchy texture.  Enjoy!!  This one's for you Kim.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

2 carrots diced
1 red onion diced
3 sticks celery diced
1 zucchini diced
2 potato's diced
1 red capsicum (red pepper) diced
a handful of green beans chopped
5 rashers short cut bacon (without the fatty ends)
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 800g tin chopped roma tomatoes
1 750g tin 4 bean mix (drained and rinsed)
4 teaspoons chicken stock powder
5 cups warm water
1 cup small shaped pasta
salt and pepper for seasoning

Add all chopped ingredients and garlic to the slow cooker pot with the cooker turned on to high.

Add stock dissolved in the warm water, add tinned tomatoes and drained and rinsed tin of beans, give a bit of a stir.

After two hours give another stir and turn down to low.  One hour before serving taste and season with salt and pepper if desired and add pasta.  You may need to add a little more boiling water at this point as the pasta soaks up a lot.  I baked a chive damper to go with this very hearty soup but a crusty loaf of bread works just as well.