Serves 4 | 28 -35 min

750 g fresh asparagus 2 onions, thinly sliced 1 litre stock 3 tablespoons olive oil 125 g cream cheese Salt Pepper

Place the oil and onion in a microwaveable dish. Cook uncovered for 3-4 minutes at 750 W. Cut off the asparagus tips and set aside. Cut the asparagus spears into 5 cm slices, making sure you discard the woody end, and combine with the onion. Cook uncovered for 5 minutes at 750 W. Add the stock, cover, and cook for a further 15-20 minutes at 500 W, stirring from time to time. Stir in the cream cheese and blend until you are left with a smooth creamy mixture. Add the asparagus tips. Heat at 750 W for 5-6 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
An extra special touch: If you like the flavour, when you add the asparagus tips you may also sprinkle in two tablespoons of dill.

Serves 4 | 13 – 16 min

150 g onion 300-400 g aubergines or courgettes 300 g peppers 200 g canned tomatoes 1 bay leaf 1 pinch thyme 1 clove garlic 1 tablespoon oil Salt Pepper

Peel and slice the onions, finely chop the garlic and place everything in a 2-litre microwaveable container with the oil. Cover and cook at 750 W for 3 minutes. Wash the vegetables and dice the aubergines or courgettes, de-seed the peppers and cut them into strips, then tip everything in the container. Add the bay leaf and mix well to combine the flavours. Cover and continue cooking for 5 minutes at 750 W. Add the diced tomatoes and continue cooking as above for a further 5-8 minutes. Add the thyme, salt and pepper and stir well.
An extra special touch: If you like spicy flavours, add chilli and a few pieces of crumbled sausage.

Serves 4 | 11 – 13 min

50 g of butter 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 bulb of garlic, crushed 400 g of skinned tomatoes 75 g of tomato preserve 1 teaspoon of aromatic herbs, salt, pepper

Place the butter, onion and garlic in a dish and cook for 2-3 minutes at 750 W. Stir in all the other ingredients, cover with clingfilm and pierce several times. Cook for 4-5 minutes at 750 W. Discard the clingfilm and continue cooking for a further 5 minutes at 750 W.

INGREDIENTS
1oz/25g margarine

1oz/25g flour
3/4 pt/425ml milk

pinch of salt if desired pepper

1 Melt the margarine in a saucepan.
2 Add the flour and cook over a low heat for 1 minute, stirring all the time.
3 Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
4 Add the milk, salt and pepper stirring all the time.
5 Return to the heat and bring to the boil. Keep stirring.
6 Reduce heat and cook slowly for 5 minutes