Minestrone

Description: This is a favorite of mine when the weather gets cooler. This recipe makes a ton of food, so it is great for large gatherings or for freezer meals. This makes 3 meals for my family.

Ingredients:

1-2 Tbsp. EVOO

2-4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 onion, chopped

1/2 head of green cabbage, chopped

1 large zucchini, chopped

2 medium carrots, sliced

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 package frozen spinach

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can garbonzo beans, drained

1 can kidney beans, drained

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. oregano

1 Tbsp. basil

1 tsp. salt

1 cup white wine (I like Pinot Grigio)

4 cups chicken broth

4 cups beef broth

46 ounces tomato juice

1 box small, shell pasta

Preparation: Don't feel overwhelmed by the ingredient list. This comes together so quickly! First you want to heat the oil in a very large pot, about a 12 quart pot. Cook onion and garlic in hot oil until onions are translucent. Add all the seasonings and stir around. Add all the beans and vegetables to the pot. Give a good stir before adding in the broths, wine and tomato juice. Stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 hour. Stir in pasta and cook for another 30 minutes. The pasta will absorb a lot of liquid, so if it gets too thick you can add a little more broth or water. Be sure to test for salt and pepper before serving.

Alterations: Try different wines out and see which one you like best. Other than that, I can't really think of any alterations. Do make sure you read the labels of the broths you get for unwanted ingredients.

Rating: My crew gives this 4 stars simply because my son, the picky eater, will only eat the beans and pasta out of the bowl when I make this. I however, crave this and will eat it day after day!