Hearty Minestrone Soup

Here's a recipe for warming up (and getting in your vegetables) on a snowy winter day.

Hearty Minestrone Soup

3 Tbsp olive oil

4 cloves garlic

2 yellow onions, chopped

5 carrots, sliced

2 cups chopped celery

4 cups chicken broth

4 cups tomato sauce

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans

1 (15 oz) can green beans

2 cups baby spinach

3 zucchini, halved and sliced

1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano

2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 cup seashell pasta

Parmesan cheese

Put olive oil into a large soup pot over medium heat. When hot, add garlic and saute for one minute.

Add chopped onions, cook and stir for two minutes.

Add carrots and celery. Cook for five minutes.

Add chicken broth and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Drain and rinse kidney beans and green beans. Add to pot.

Add spinach, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat for at least one hour.

About 20 minutes before serving, bring a small pot of water to boil and then add seashell pasta. Cook as directed on pasta package.

Add pasta to soup immediately before serving.

Ladle into bowls and top with parmesan cheese.

Serves 8.

Chinese Green Beans

I've had a package of frozen green beans in the freezer for several months and I finally came up with something to use them for. This is a quick side or main dish. Don't be scared of the garlic! My rating: 5 out of 5.

Chinese Green Beans

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 yellow onion
1 lb frozen green beans
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp water
3 Tbsp spicy oyster sauce

Place frozen green beans in the microwave and cook for 4-5 minutes, until defrosted but not hot. Drain off excess water.

Slice onion into pieces that are roughly the same size as the green beans.

Place a large saucepan on the stove over high heat. Allow to become very hot before adding anything. Keep heat at high while cooking. This goes fast!

Add oil. Allow to heat for 10 seconds.

Add garlic and onion. Stir vigorously and cook for 30-60 seconds.

Add drained green beans, water, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until beans are warmed through, about 3 minutes.

Add oyster sauce. Cook for another 30-60 seconds.

If you want to make this a main dish, simply add 1/2 pound of thinly sliced cooked beef or chicken.

Golden Cream Soup

This soup is a good example of comfort food. It's cheesy, hearty, and perfect for cold winter evenings. My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Golden Cream Soup

1 1/2 cups water
3 cups cubed potatoes
2/3 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1/3 cup diced onion
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 cups milk
2 Tbsp flour
8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed

Add water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, bouillon, parsley, salt, and pepper to a large soup pot. Cook on medium for 15 minutes or until vegetables are soft.

Measure milk in a glass measuring cup. Add flour to the milk and whisk until flour is well-incorporated. Add to the soup pot and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cheese and continue stirring until cheese is melted.

Serves 3-4.