J J'S SMOKED GOUDA VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Render bacon slowly in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserve for garnish, and heat fat on medium-low. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add garlic and continue cooking until onions are translucent. Do not allow garlic to burn. Transfer onions and garlic to a soup pot. Add carrots, tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the beans, red peppers, chicken broth, zucchini, and yellow squash. Bring to a boil. Add basil and oregano. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baguette slices with cooking spray and lightly toast in oven. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and paprika on toast and toast until light brown and bubbly.
• Five minutes before serving, add Gouda cheese to soup and allow a few minutes for cheese to soften. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Sprinkle reserved bacon over top. Place 2 slices of toast per serving on top of soup.
• Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Remove 1/3 cup of the mixture and set aside. Add the chilled shortening and, using a pastry cutter, incorporate until shortening and flour become pea-sized (be patient), set aside. Use reserved 1/3 cup of flour/salt mixture and 1/4 cup of water, mix to make a paste. Using hands, add paste to flour/shortening mixture and work it just enough for paste to cover everything - don't work it too much. Roll out dough, and then roll onto pin to transfer to pie tin. Fill with preferred pumpkin pie or other pie filling.