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I HATE following recipes, so when I see a food concept that sounds good I skim the ingredients & instructions, then decide to do it my own way. Last week I decided to try my hand at minestrone soup..sort of. The following is what I came up with, and it was pretty damn good:
Ingredients
1 sweet yellow onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
2 tsp olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
8 cups chicken stock (I bought low-sodium organic, but kudos to you if you make your own!)
4 lg tomatoes, diced
1 medium yellow squash, diced
1 medium green zucchini, diced
1 small can tomato paste
2 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp basil
1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tbsp frank's red hot sauce (or tobasco, or similar)
1 small package pre-made tortellini (I used chicken & prosciutto)
2-3 cups kale or spinach
Dry, hard Italian cheese (to taste)
Salt (to taste)
Crusty bread
Instructions
1. In a stock pot, heat olive oil. Add onions and carrots, cooking until onions are translucent. Add garlic, cooking for about 1 more minute. Deglaze the pan by adding about 1 cup of chicken stock, stirring gently.
2. Add 3 more cups of stock, tomatoes, zucchini, and squash. Cook for about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add remaining stock, spices, tomato paste, and hot sauce. Stir to incorporate all ingredients.
3. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then cover, reduce to just above simmer, and cook for about 20-30 minutes. Add tortellini, cook for approximately 8-10 minutes.
4. Add kale or spinach, cooking until greens are wilted (about 2 minutes). Serve with a small pinch of dry, hard Italian cheese (mix of Romano/Parm or similar), salt and crusty bread.
Ingredients
1 sweet yellow onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
2 tsp olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
8 cups chicken stock (I bought low-sodium organic, but kudos to you if you make your own!)
4 lg tomatoes, diced
1 medium yellow squash, diced
1 medium green zucchini, diced
1 small can tomato paste
2 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp basil
1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tbsp frank's red hot sauce (or tobasco, or similar)
1 small package pre-made tortellini (I used chicken & prosciutto)
2-3 cups kale or spinach
Dry, hard Italian cheese (to taste)
Salt (to taste)
Crusty bread
Instructions
1. In a stock pot, heat olive oil. Add onions and carrots, cooking until onions are translucent. Add garlic, cooking for about 1 more minute. Deglaze the pan by adding about 1 cup of chicken stock, stirring gently.
2. Add 3 more cups of stock, tomatoes, zucchini, and squash. Cook for about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add remaining stock, spices, tomato paste, and hot sauce. Stir to incorporate all ingredients.
3. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then cover, reduce to just above simmer, and cook for about 20-30 minutes. Add tortellini, cook for approximately 8-10 minutes.
4. Add kale or spinach, cooking until greens are wilted (about 2 minutes). Serve with a small pinch of dry, hard Italian cheese (mix of Romano/Parm or similar), salt and crusty bread.
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