Minestrone Soup

Life has been so busy I really haven't had much time to do any projects or cook new things for my family. Yesterday was the perfect day to start anew and get crackin on my recipe book that I have put off for too long. First item on the list for the day was to make my mother's minestrone soup. To think that I have had this recipe for years and never made it is mind boggling. The goal with my recipe book is to try all the recipes I want in my book and to take a picture of it. I have so many recipes on little pieces of paper. Now I am trying to type them all onto my computer. It will take some time but with a little more dedication I know that I can do it. Eventually when we make our dinner calendars the kids will be able to flip through our cookbook to see what they would like to eat for the week. Eventually I will transfer it to a really nice book by Blurb or My Publisher. For now it will remain in a binder.

Now onto the soup. This is the most fabulous soup for a good rainy day. It is pretty healthy with lots of yummy vegetables. It does take a little bit of prep time in cutting up everything but it is well worth it.

4 slices bacon cut in ½ inch pieces
2 Tbl. olive oil
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 can diced tomatoes
4 stalks celery, diced
2 long carrots, diced
½ c. green beans (I use the canned green beans)
¼ c. fresh chopped parsley
1 tsp. fresh basil

1 can bean with bacon soup
1 can red kidney beans
1 can beef broth

Fry bacon in olive oil and add onions and garlic. Sauté until golden. Add ingredients up to and including the basil. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add soup, beans, and broth and simmer for 20 minutes.