You’d think after the soup swap I’d be pretty much soup-ed out, but nope. The weather here is just too perfect for soup and I’ve been craving it like crazy.

This is a copycat of the Olive Garden minestrone – and it’s a good one. Serve along with a loaf of crusty bread and it’s the perfect snow-day lunch.

Vegetable Minestrone
(adapted from Cooking Classy)
Serves 6

4 cups vegetable stock
1 1/2 cups water
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 tsp. parsley
2 tsp. basil
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. rosemary
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp. sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/3 cups diced zucchini
1 1/3 cups small shell pasta
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can cannellini beans
1 can green beans
2 cups spinach

In a large pot, stir together the vegetable stock, water, tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves and sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for two hours.

Add zucchini, pasta, garlic, kidney beans and cannellini beans to the pot and stir to combine. Cook until pasta is tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in the green beans and spinach and cook a few minutes, until heated through. Serve warm.