Mediterranean Chickpea Stew
You can make this hearty soup vegetarian by omitting the bacon, sautéing the veggies in olive oil instead of the bacon fat and substituting vegetable broth for the chicken broth. Use the bottom of a heavy saucepan to crush the fennel seeds, which will release their licorice-like flavour. If you don't have fresh spinach, you can use half of a 300-gram package of frozen spinach; just be sure to thaw and drain it well before stirring it into the soup.