sOUp of ThE WeeK #5

...i have to start off by saying I'm sorry. I missed a week, i hate that sometimes work gets in the way of EVERYTHING but it does whether i want it to or not...


There is something so magical about simple soups like vegetable soup, have fun with it add or don't add whatever you like ....just keep the main ingredients in place and it will taste great every time.  I find soups like this one or homemade chicken noodle soul lifting soups, they just seem to make the world a little warmer and scare the chill away that can affect out minds and body when things aren't quiet going our way...so when you need a little pick me up just make a soup and cuddle up and kiss all the bad stuff goodbye...nothing is better for the whole body than a little homemade soup!

------------->this weeks soup is "minestrone"

(...or vegetable soup with pasta,  but i will lightly use)

Minestrone

I start with:

1 lg. white onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, chopped

sweat this off  in the bottom of your soup pot with 2 T. oil

then add:

2 lg. carrots, chopped

3 stalks celery, sliced

1 sm. butternut squash, diced

2 c. green beans, in 1/2" pieces

1 red pepper, diced

4 diced roma tomatoes

1 c. great white northern beans w/ liquid

(*** the liquid helps to thicken the soup***)

Traditionally this is made with kidney beans, 

but i don't really care for them or i opt for white beans 

but you can use kidney beans, or even chickpeas if you like

roast the veggies a little in the bottom of the pan

then deglaze with--->

1 c. white wine

then use water or vegetable stock to cover

1 can of tomato sauce

when simmering add:

1/2 bg. of baby spinach, chopped

1 T. dried basil

1 T. dried thyme

salt and pepper

10 leaves fresh basil

and 1 whatever small pasta you like

(you can use alphabets, stars, little o's, or orzo)

cook until pasta is tender, but  i like to let it sit over night, then bring it back up to a boil and add the pasta and basil at that time...serve and enjoy to wonders of vegetable soup!