Yum, Yum

I just have to share the meal that I made tonight because it was delicious! I found a recipe for Minestrone soup, which I know there are lots, but this one looked even more delicious because there are so many things in it, including lots of fresh veggies! Here is the recipe:

Minestrone: (it makes A LOT!)















20 Servings Prep: 20 min. Cook: 1-1/2 hours
Ingredients
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
1 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup canola oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
5 cups beef broth
2 cups chopped tomatoes or 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
2 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
1 cup sliced fresh carrots
2 teaspoons dried basil or Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1-1/2 cups sliced zucchini
1 cup cut fresh green beans
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 cup uncooked ditalini or 4 ounces spaghetti, broken into 3-inch pieces
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a stockpot, saute the onions, celery and parsley in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cabbage, carrots, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour.
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir into soup along with the zucchini, beans and pasta. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables and pasta are tender. Top each serving with cheese. Yield: 20 servings (5 quarts).


Nutritional Analysis: 1 cup equals 209 calories, 9 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 26 mg cholesterol, 538 mg sodium, 19 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 14 g protein.


Then for dessert... My sister-in-law Katie bought us a Breakfast of the Month Club subscription and for March we got some yummy granola from Sweet Home Farms.












There was a recipe on the box for Dreamy Honey cookies, and they are dreamy! It was the perfect ending to a great dinner! If you have a chance to try this granola, it was seriously the best granola I have ever had!