Minestrone and Grilled Italy

Michael and I agree that so far, this is the best meal I make. We both love the minestrone, and I really love Grilled Italy as well (Michael's creative genius is responsible for its name). Anyway, I thought I'd like to share the recipes.

Remember I'm an amateur photographer. More like a pre-thinking-about-becoming-a-novice-in-the-pre-amateur-photographer-thing-of-whatever.

Note: don't be daunted by the ingredient list. I have recipes that use up all the other ingredients, so if you want those recipes or suggestions, let me know. I'd be happy to pass them along. You can easily substitute the type of beans used, etc. or leave anything out that you don't care for. The broth for this soup is amazing. It's rather thin, but it's SO delicious.











Minestrone Soup
This soup is a fantastic way to get lots of delicious vegetables into your diet. Feel free to add or subtract veggies to this recipe too. I've tried adding a handful of frozen or fresh spinach, and I'm sure it would be great with green beans or broccoli. The broth will change your life. Like I said, dont' be daunted by the ingredient list. I can think of lots of ways to use up those extra ingredients if you're nervous.

Ingredients:

• 8oz, kielbasa sausage, cut in half lengthwise and sliced (I use the lite version--don't get the smoked version...ew.)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 bell pepper (any color) chopped. (I use green or a mixture of red and green)
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 4-5c water
• 3 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1 1/2c diced carrots (2-3 carrots)
• 3/4c diced celery (1-2 stalks)
• 2 (14.5oz) cans Italian diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can cannellini (or Great Northern) beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/2c dry farfalle (bowtie) pasta

Directions: brown sausage in bottom of soup pot. Remove sausage and set aside. Add onion, green pepper, garlic, and olive oil to pot, stirring to scrape up any brown bits from the pot. Cook on medium heat until onion is tender. Add c water, bouillon cubes, carrots, and celery to pot. Bring to a boil. Cook 5-8 minutes, or until carrots and celery begin to get tender. In separate saucepan, bring water to boil for pasta. Add pasta to saucepan and cook according to directions, making sure to stop cooking when pasta is still a bit firm (it will finish cooking in the soup). Add tomatoes and sausage to soup and reduce to simmer. Simmer 5-10 minutes. Add beans and pasta. Simmer at least 8 minutes more, or until ready to serve.

It tastes even better the longer it sits (as is the case with most soups)











Grilled Italy
I "made up" this recipe when I wanted the same great flavors that I get from my Ham and Mozzarella Pesto Stromboli but didn't have the time to make French bread dough. Use any bread that you have on hand. I'd recomment something that will toast up nicely and not mask the great flavor of the basil pesto. The buttery outside melts in your mouth, as do the rich pesto and delicious combination of melty cheese and smoky ham. Feel free to adjust proportions.

Ingredients:

• bread of choice (I used leftover Sheepherders bread that I had on hand, but French bread, or white bread, or any bread will do)
• Smoked sandwich ham of your choice
• Basil pesto (I use Classico brand)
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• butter to spread

Directions:
Assemble as many sandwiches as desired, by spreading pesto on one side of the bread, and layering ham and cheese to taste. butter the top and bottom of the sandwich and cook in pan or on griddle until cheese is melty and bread is toasted to taste. Enjoy!