Homemade Minestrone

I love minestrone.  It's delicious.  Since Philip was sick all weekend, I made him some homemade minestrone with fresh baked bread.  He enjoyed it and soup always makes people feel better.  :)

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup zucchini, chopped

3/4 cup green beans (I use frozen)

1 stalk celery (chopped into small pieces)

1/2 cup carrot, shredded

2-3 cups fresh baby spinach

3 cloves minced garlic

32 oz vegetable broth

1 can diced tomatoes

2 cans of kidney beans, drained

2 cans great northern beans, drained

1 1/2 tablespoons parsley

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon thyme2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup red wine

3/4 cup small shell pasta

1. Saute onion, zucchini, celery, green beans, and garlic in the oil until the onions become semi-transparent.
2. Add the broth and wine and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Then add the water, tomatoes, beans, carrot, and all of the spices.
3. Bring it to a boil.  Then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.  
4. Add the spinach and stir.  
5. Add the pasta and cook for about 15 minutes or until the pasta is done. 

This goes really well with fresh baked bread.  And, it's fantastic with some parmesan cheese on top.  Yum!