Hearty Minestrone Soup

It is a bit of a colder Spring day today, so I thought what is better for a cold day then to a bowl of soup to warm you from the inside out.  And for me there is nothing better then a hearty bowl of Minestrone soup to not only warm up up but actually fill you up.  At times soup can leave you still feeling hungry so finding a soup that is not only tasty but also fills you up is a must.  I found this wonderful recipe on Allrecipes.com.  And the great thing about having soup for a meal is that it is so easy to do, it can be fixed ahead of time and heated up later on.  What is your favorite soup for a cold day?

Hearty Minestrone Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
5 carrots, sliced
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
4 cups canned tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine (optional)
1 cup canned small navy beans, rinsed drained
2 cups baby spinach, rinsed
3 zucchinis, quartered and sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup spiral pasta
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese for topping

In a large stock pot, over medium-low heat, heat olive oil and saute garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add carrots, saute for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add chicken broth, water and tomatos, bring to boil, stirring frequently. If desired add red wine at this point. 

Reduce heat to low and add beans, spinach leaves, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, the longer the better.

Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until tender. Drain water and set aside.

Once pasta is cooked and soup is heated through place 2 tablespoons cooked pasta into individual serving bowls. Adding the pasta last is a great way to ensure that your noodles don't get too soggy, especially if you are going to be having leftovers. Ladle soup on top of pasta and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and serve.