Garden Minestrone Soup Recipes

Steps:

• In a 6-quart stockpot, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots, celery and onion; cook until tender, 6-8 minutes. Add zucchini, yellow squash and seasonings; cook and stir until squash is crisp-tender, 4-6 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Mash 1/2 cup beans with a fork. Stir mashed beans and tomatoes into vegetables. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-12 minutes., Stir in pasta and remaining beans; return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, 7-9 minutes or just until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. Stir in spinach; cook until spinach is wilted., Freeze option: Add remaining beans but not pasta and spinach. Cool soup; freeze in freezer containers for up to 3 months. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Place in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Stir in pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, for 7-9 minutes or until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. Add spinach and cook until wilted.

Steps:

• Slowly saute finely minced onion, celery and carrot in butter until very brown.
• Add peas and beans and about 3 quarts of water.
• Cook slowly until beans are almost done (check garbanzos- they will take the longest) about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Add the remaining vegetables, rice and spices and more water if necessary and cook another hour.
• About 20 minutes before serving time add the macaroni and more water if needed.
• Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Serve with crusty garlic bread.