The soup sounds yummy (actually so do the steak kebobs!). I'd probably nuke regular bacon until almost done to reduce the fat (great idea). The pre-cooked seems pricey and we've always got the other kind around.
I'd go with Guyere or swiss cheese instead of prov. or mozz. - I like the nutty flavor it adds to the soup.
What was desert?
No desert. That was quite enough....
I've been using the pre-cooked for a while now. It's not exactly the same as frying up a pound of bacon, but being single it works well for me. I don't have it go bad in the fridge, either a quick 20 second nuke or a minute in the egg pan to crisp it, very little grease to deal with (none if you nuke it in a paper towel). And because it stores on a shelf without refrigeration, I can always have fresh on-hand. It's a bit more expensive, but it's worth it to me.