Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup

Great Italian soup worthy of your palette. Hearty, tasty and very filling. Makes for a great lunch for or that cold wintry Saturday.

Ingredients:

1 large only, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 large carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, diced
6 Roma tomatoes crushed and diced, or 1 large can of crushed stewed tomatoes
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups Beef broth
1 cup Orzo pasta
4 fresh basil leaves, chopped and diced
2 tablespoons Virgin Olive Oil
2 lbs Beef cubes, cut into mouth size pieces.

(if you have leftover string beans, feel free to add them to the pot.)

Directions:

In a large pot, heat your olive oil over medium heat. Sautee your beef until all sides are slightly browned, add in your onions while meat is browning. Cook until you can see through the onions, about 4-5 minutes. Add in your garlic and stir for a few seconds, then add your other ingredients and cook for 30-40 minutes. All veggies plus meat must be cooked thoroughly. Test the meat to ensure it is cooked, and can be cut with a fork. Once the tone of your meat is confirmed, begin to serve. Serve with fried garlic bread or fresh French bread. Enjoy!