Lunch for the Week | Minestrone

I decided to try and keep up with the being healthy stuff and made a large batch of fruit salad (cantaloupe, pear, banana, tangerine, pineapple, and some lime juice) - AND - some soup for the rest of the week for lunches and the odds and ends meals that occur in this house. For the soup i looked in one of my favorite veggie cook books, A Beautiful Bowl of Soup. Soups are wonderful because they don't have to be heavy and you can cram TONS of veggies and vitamins into them and they taste great! Some at least ; )

I landed on the Minestrone with White Beans recipe (pg 92). Very flavorful. It came out a bit thick, but should be perfect with reheating. I had no idea that it would yield SO much. I used all of the Pyrex Tupperware and STILL had to pull two bowls out like i was getting ready for dinner tomorrow already. I also substituted the plain elbow noodles for some Quiona Elbow Noodles for extra zest and nutrients - AND - Plum tomatoes for a can for fire roasted tomatoes. Yummy!!!

3 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup Onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped
5 cups of Vegetable Stock
1 28-oz can of Tomatoes, Fire Roasted/Diced
10-ozs New Potatoes, diced into 1/2" pieces
8-ozs Green Beans, chopped in 1/2" pieces
2 Carrots, chopped in 1/2" pieces
1 Zucchini, chopped in 1/2" pieces
2 tablespoons fresh Oregano, minced
1 15-oz can Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
6-oz Quinoa Elbow Macaroni
1 6-oz can Tomato Paste
1/4 cup fresh Basil, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Pepper, to taste

1. Place the Oil, Onions, and half of the Garlic into the pan and cook on medium until the onions are translucent (appx 5 minutes)
2. Add the Veggie Stock, diced tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, carrots, zucchini, and oregano; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered for 25 minutes stirring occasionally
3. Increase heat to high, bringing to a boil; add beans and macaroni, reduce heat and simmer covered for 12 minutes
4. Remove from heat; stir in tomato paste, basil, and pepper.
5. Serve with Parmesan cheese if desired