Ham and Vegetable Soup, Bacon-Cheese Burgers

Ham and Vegetable Soup

%to 1 lb. fully-cooked bone-In ham slice

1 tablespoon olive oil

8 oz. small red potatoes, thlnly sliced

1 small zucchlnl, sliced

1 cup chopped cabbage % cup choppad onlon

‘h cup chopped green pepper

%cup chopped carrot 4 to 4% cups hot water

2 teaspoons Instant chlcken bouillon granules

%teaspoon dried basil leaves

%teaspoon dried thyme leaves ‘18teaspoon pepper

Remove bone from ham. Set aside. Cut ham into %-inch cubes. Set aside. In 3-quart casserole, combine ham bone, potatoes, zucchini, cabbage, onion, green pepper and carrot. Cover. Microwave at HIGH Power for 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender, stirring once. Stir in ham and remaining ingredients. Cover. Microwave at HIGH Power for 15 to 18 minutes, or until heated through, stirring once. Discard bone.

6 to 8 servings

Barbecued Pork Sandwiches

2 Ibs. pork blade steaks

1 can (12 oz.) beer

1 small onlon, thlnly sliced

1 clove garflc, quartered

1 bay leaf

1 cup barbecue sauce

%cup chill sauce

V4teaspoon pepper

4 pits bread, 4-Inch shredded lettuce

In P-quart microwavable casserole, combine pork, beer, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Cover. Microwave at HIGH Power for 10 minutes, then DEFROST for 40 to 50 minutes, or until pork is tender. Let stand, covered for 10 minutes. Remove pork and onion. Cool. Discard cooking liquid. Shred pork.

In 2-quart microwavable casserole, mix pork, reserved onion, bar- becue sauce, chili sauce and pepper. Cover. Microwave at HIGH Power for 8 to 10 minutes, or until heated through. Discard bay leaf. Serve in pita bread with lettuce.

4 servings

Bacon-Cheese Burgers

3 slices bacon

1 lb. lean ground beef

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

%teaspoon onlon salt

V8teaspoon pepper

4 slices (3/aoz. each) American process cheese

Place bacon on microwavable roasting rack. Cover with paper towel. Microwave at HIGH Power for 3 to 4 minutes, or until just crisp. Cool. Crumble.

In medium-sized mixing bowl, mix ground beef, bacon, Worcester- shire sauce, onion salt and pepper. Shape into 4 patties, 112 inch thick. Arrange on microwavable roasting rack. Microwave, un- covered, at HIGH Power for 3 minutes. Turn over. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or until beef is desired doneness. Top each with cheese slice. Microwave at HIGH Power for 45 to 60 seconds, or until cheese melts.

4 servings