2007_03_29-PeaSoup.jpgInspired by Brown Bag Thursday and this post about cooking a good lunch starting from a can of soup, we present you with the latest of our soup hacks.

Whole Foods' 365 Everyday Value brand is economical, and we like to use it for lots of our basic cupboard staples. But this soup is not that exciting, tastewise. It's also strictly vegetarian, which is great, but sometimes we just want some meat in our lunch. Enter the soup hack...

Take 2 strips of bacon and cut them into small strips. Fry until crisp in a frying pan then remove and drain on paper towels. Drain the bacon fat out of the pan, then dump the soup and bacon pieces into the pan and warm until almost boiling.

Whisk in 1/2 cup milk or cream (if you feel like being indulgent) and add 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon red pepper. Grated fresh nutmeg is better, if you have it, and really makes the dish.

Grate a little Parmesan cheese over the top and eat happily.