Big Pot of Veggie Soup

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Recipe's preparation

I peeled all my vegetables, although you could probably just cut off the stalks/ends and toss them in.  Cut veggies into inch long / cubes and coursely chop in Thermomix - 2 seconds on speed 5 - (I put enough veggies in jug to half fill jug ie. I put the turnip and swede in together, did pumpkin on its own, potato on its own, carrots and parnsips together, onion and garlic together etc - it doesn't matter if you mix veggie types, as they're all going to be in same pot in the end!).  Scoop out chopped veggies, and tip into deep saucepan / stock pot.  Once all veggies have been chopped and added to saucepan, add pearl barley, stock concentrate and bacon bone (Note: doesn't have to be specifically bacon bone, could be raw lamb bone / beef bone - I've used all, and all are good, just gives different flavour).  Cover contents of pot with water, give a good stir.  Cook on med-high heat on stove top, bring to boil, then reduce heat and cook for approx 30 minutes (stir occassionally, to avoid veg sticking to base of pan).  Taste - add salt and pepper, or a little more veg stock concentrate and/or water to your liking.  Scoop out the bone and disgard.  Serve with crusty freshly baked bread.

Note:  This makes a massive pot of soup - it is a very flexible recipe - add water to thin down, and it'll go even further!  I use whatever veggies I have in the cupboard, but usually stick to root veggies.  The pearl barley adds fullness, you can give or take amount.  You can cook without the bone, but I prefer the extra flavour the bone gives. I added 1/2 chopped capsicum and 1 teaspoon chilli flakes to this pot - but sometimes I'll add 2 teaspoons of curry for different flavour.  I'm not a massive herb-fan, but if you use a lamb bone, you could add some rosemary etc.  If you cut down the quantity you could cook in the thermomix - I just like to make lots, as I have a large family, and I like to have left overs for lunches!  If you want to cook in thermomix, halve receipe and omit the bone, cook on reverse "Counter-clockwise operation" for 30 mins (obviously after chopping all the vegetables!).