relatively inexpensive, super filling and enormously delicious, not to mention easy, soup is pretty much the greatest meal ever. it's also (arguably) the most comforting. i don't know what the weather is like where you are, but where i am it's a little cold and a lot windy and that just makes me want a big bowl of soup. soup like this one:
easy minestrone
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced1/2 medium onion, diced
1 bunch asparagus, chopped
1 large (28 oz) can tomatoes with juice
1 can white beans, drained
1 bunch kale (i used purple kale because i like the color), roughly chopped
6 cups chicken stock
handful of small pasta or broken bits of pasta
begin by sauteing mushrooms, onions and asparagus in 2 tablespoons olive oil for 3-5 minutes. add tomatoes, white beans, kale and chicken stock. cover and simmer 20-30 minutes. add a handful of dry pasta 5-8 minutes before serving. i like to serve mine with a generous grating of parmesan cheese right on top.
*this is just the recipe for the version of the soup i made recently, but you can substitute the veggies based on what you have around. minestrone is equally delicious with zucchini, carrots, celery, potato, or eggplant. you can also substitute the kale and use cabbage, spinach or some other dark, leafy green.
