12.07.2009

Easy Minestrone

We are experiencing some unusually cold temperatures around the Portland area right now. This basically means that WE ARE FREEZING OUR BUNS CLEAN OFF!

My son's spelling words for tonight's homework were as follows: Freeze, Frigid, Temperature, and Cold. Very fitting!

All of this blustery chilliness puts me in the mood for a nice piping hot bowl of Minestrone Soup.

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I have used this recipe for years. It's quick, easy, warm, and wonderful. The only change I made this time was to use whole wheat penne.

Easy Minestrone
by theUngourmet

1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove chopped garlic
3 cups chicken, beef, or veggie broth
1 cup cooked kidney beans
2 chopped carrots
1 cup fresh green bean, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 cup marinara sauce
1 cup whole wheat penne
cracked pepper
grated parmesan (optional)

Heat olive oil in a 4 qt saucepan. Add garlic and saute for about 1 minute, stirring. Add the broth and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until noodles are al dente.

Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches, or a loaf of warm, crusty bread.

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This really hits the spot!

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I also wanted to take a moment to say thank you to Teresa of A Blog About Food for passing me this fabulous award. Teresa's blog is one of my most favorites. She is such a sweetheart. Even though we've never met, I have a feeling if we ever did meet, we would be instant friends!



I also want to thank Olive of Latest Recipes Home Cooking and Baking. I recently discovered Olive's blog and I have to tell you it is beyond full of terrific recipes!



I am supposed to list a few things about myself for each of these award. I forget how many so I'll just see how many I can come up with.

1. I have Raynaud's Disease so I really hate the cold. I wish I could enjoy the cold, crisp air as much as (most) everyone else does. Waaaa!

2. I love making sweet treats but I don't really like eating my creations. I just don't have much of a sweet tooth.

3. I suffer from social anxiety. I feel really uncomfortable at parties or in large groups and would much rather be home in my jammies.

4. My kids are my best friends. They fill my life with more joy than words can express.

5. I am terrible at video games of any kind. I hate them, I stink at playing them, but I am very impressed with people (my kids) that are great at playing them.

6. I can never sit through an entire movie without getting up at least one time to use the bathroom. Consequently, I've never seen a movie from beginning to end in my entire life.

7. I wish I was a vegetarian but I have a meat eating family so it's just too much work for me to make separate meals each night so...woe is me.

8. I truly think the hardest part of going veg would be giving up bacon! :D

Well, Zip Zap. That's a wrap! Happy Tuesday!

51 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

We are in the same geographic area and we are freezing our buns off too. I hope it warms up by Christmas, although when it is this cold there is no snow to shovel so that is a positive thing!!!! Let's all warm up with minestrone!!!

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh great minestrone!

Loved your list, hey shame about the cold!
xoxo

Angie's Recipes said...

Easy but tasty!
It's cold here too, but just no sight of snow...:-((( I want some snow and a minestrone for the Xämas!

pam said...

Nothing like a nice hot bowl of soup when you are cold! **I also have never seen a movie from beginning to end without a bathroom break!

Ginger said...

The soup looks awesome!! I might need some today, it is literally freezing in Cincinnati! I am cracking up at the spelling words. Those spelling words made my day and I needed that considering that a teenager could put a damper on it at 6 in the morning!

Joanne said...

Congrats on the awards. Bacon does make everythign better doesn't it? And trust me, being in the cold is fun for NO ONE.

This soup looks great, especially with that grilled cheese you talked about...

Palidor said...

That yummy soup will certainly take the chill away. If it's any consolation, it's cold in Ontario too.

Congrats on the awards! You aren't good at video games? Oh, you just need practice is all! Although I could cut down on my meat consumption, I don't think I could give it up entirely. I can't imagine a world without bacon!

Cathy said...

I love a big bowl of soup when it's cold out. I'll give this a try - I'm always on the lookout for a good, quick minestrone recipe.

♥peachkins♥ said...

Minestrone is one of my favorite soups!

NKP said...

Amazing how many of those we have in common!
Great soup to warm your bones, it has gotten chilly here too.

nanny said...

Nothing better than a good hot bowl of soup and grilled cheese sandwich on a cold day...this soup looks delicious...gotta have this recipe in my 3 ring binder (that is bulging, thanks to you) ha

Cathy said...

Hi Kim - This is soup weather to be sure. And a forecast of freezing rain on Saturday! What's with that!!!

Your soup looks so delicious and perfect for our "bun freezing off" weather.

Stephanie said...

I would much rather stay at home in my jammies (and cook!) than socialize, too!

Love a good soup! I just made a big pot with leftover turkey and veggies from the last of the veggie tray. Mmmm! Yours looks warm and comforting, too!

The imPerfect Housewife said...

That minestrone soup looks really easy and I like the idea of the penne - I haven't seen that before but I bet it was perfect. I just might have that stuff all around here. I got a bread machine last year that I use the heck out of so soup with some bread is my kind of meal!! Have a great day ~ ♥

Allyson said...

Technically, we are considered in the "south" and it's supposed to snow today. That just doesn't happen in Kentucky...in December. And your soup will be the perfect dinner - AND I have all of that in my house right now! Thanks for posting. May you get a high-pressure system very soon!

Unknown said...

i am so into soups in the wintertime! mmmm...i can almost smell the minestrone cooking! one question: i've heard the whole wheat pasta can get mushy (i've never been brave enough to try it). what do you think? and how did it hold up in the soup?

KennyT said...

What a great and hearty soup, very good for this chilly weather!

TKW said...

Kim,

I have Raynaud's Phenomenon/Disease also! AND it is -3 degrees here right now. Guess what Witch has white fingers right now?

Your soup looks like the perfect antidote.

teresa said...

i love it, i can relate to a lot of your facts! if i do ever make it over to oregon, we'll have to have lunch!

the minestrone looks fantastic! perfect for a cold day.

Chiara "Kika" Assi said...

Wish I could be in Portland to enjoy some cold weather and some of your minestrone. Minestrone sounds really great right now. I wonder if I have all the ingredients...

Connie said...

What I wouldn't give for a bowl of that right now!

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a gorgeous looking soup. If it tastes half as good as it looks, you have a real winner on your hands.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

soups everywhere today... Cold brings out some amazing recipes...

BACON!!!

I won the same award today. Fun to get to know readers better...

Great post

Faith said...

This minestrone looks really perfect on a chilly day! Oh yes, I'd love a grilled cheese alongside for dipping! ;)

Congrats on your awards!

Jenn said...

Ah spelling, I remember those days. Luckily among all days it's a bit sunny here in LA after a heavy rain. But it's still a bit chilly.

One of the reasons I love this season is the amount of soup that will be made. Yum yum!!

Juliana said...

Wow, your soup really looks great...very comforting and I am sure that will keep you warm :-)

Alex Fitzpatrick aka Ma What's 4 Dinner said...

Mmmm. This looks so good and perfect for this 30 degree night we're having in the Los Angeles area. Thanks SITSta!

Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner?
www.MaWhats4Dinner.com

Unknown said...

I'm a couple of states below you but we're getting some pretty darned cold weather here too. SoCal even has a freeze warning tonight...in the VALLEY!! A nice big bowl of minestrone sure would be good.

scrappysue said...

looks amazing and i love the dish too!

chow and chatter said...

great soup and congrats on the awards you so deserve them rebecca

Reeni said...

I would love a bowl of your delicious, comforting soup to warm me up right now! It looks wonderful! Do you know I've never made minestrone? Must fix that!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Mmmmmmmm. Love love love soup and that minestrone looks delish. I'm SO with you on bacon!

Anonymous said...

A very nice version of minestrone, perfect for the cold weather and the freezing rain that's happening here tonight.

Velva said...

I do believe your post has inspired me to make a pot of minestrone tomorrow-never mind that the temperature tomorrow is expected to be 80 degrees. My grass and plants are so confused :-)

Stay warm!

Chef E said...

Soup, my middle name girlie! I just bought a big container of penne, so now I have two things to make this and a spinach dish, maybe I will combine them!

love lives in the kitchen said...

great recipe! i love minestrone ;)
wish you a sweet day,
justyna

Slices of Beauty... said...

I am hungry!
Lovely list.

Ju (The Little Teochew) said...

Nothing like a good minestrone for comfort in cold weather, and yours looks really hearty! Thanks for sharing a lil about yourself :)

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

Fun list!! :)

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

Mmmm grilled cheese and tomato based soups! Love that combo.

Randi Troxell said...

the soups look fantastic...

Olive said...

your minestrone looks so hearty!

..I enjoyed reading your random facts too..glad to know we have some things in common.. I don't wanna give up the bacon too, it's just too good not to have in my diet ;)

Thanks Kim for your nice words!:)

noble pig said...

Yes, 10 degrees this morning...this would be perfect!!

Maria said...

I am bookmarking this one!

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Claudia said...

Giving up bacon ... that would be tough. The minnesotrone looks perfect - it's freeing, snow, sleety in MN. Soup is definitely called for ... now.

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm so happy! Ben loves minestrone and I've never made it!

I would never go vegetarian.

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Yes, bacon is very tasty! I think my kids can smell it from a mile away - lol. Your soup looks delicious! I hope you are having a good December so far!

XOOX
Jen

Katy ~ said...

We're receiving our share of snow, 6 inches or so yesterday. It was a neighborhood of snow blowing and shoves scraping driveways, and cars creeping past the house. Minestone would have been a perfect soup to just sit and watch the snow fall and feel all warm and cozy inside.

It was fun to learn about you. I'm not a bit party person either (it is my goal to lead a more or less reclusive life).

Congratulations on your awards. How fun and well deserved. I love hanging out here. You have such great recipes and your warm personality shines through.

Julie said...

Beautiful looking soup...I just had dinner but with I had some of your soup now. (we think we're pretty cold here in Phoenix, but I know we're really not)

kanishk said...

it is this cold there is no snow to shovel so that is a positive thing!!!! Let's all warm up with minestrone!!!

Work from home India

nora@ffr said...

was on my vacation! :) now at home!! but still no snow :( happy holidays and merry Christmas!!

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