A Tale Of Two Minestrones And A Bulldog
Once upon a time a nice (questionable) lady (questionable again) named Angie made two Minestrones. One Minestrone was by Rachael Ray. And the other Minestrone was by Giada De Laurentiis.
While making the Minestrones, Angie wondered how Giada stays so skinny after making all that delicious food that she whips up on her cooking show.
Once upon a time a nice (questionable) lady (questionable again) named Angie made two Minestrones. One Minestrone was by Rachael Ray. And the other Minestrone was by Giada De Laurentiis.
While making the Minestrones, Angie wondered how Giada stays so skinny after making all that delicious food that she whips up on her cooking show.
Photo from CookingLight.com
Angie also pondered how much money does Rachael Ray REALLY need to make in a lifetime?
Photo from Babble.com
But Angie digressed and eventually got back to the work at hand....the two Minestrones.
Both Minestrone recipes were similar, yet each was very different.
Angie took pictures of all her hard work on these two Minestrone recipes over the course of two nights. She was so proud of herself; she had documented two soup recipes and would share it with the world!!!!!!
And then one day Angie went to share both Minestrone recipes with the world.
It was then that Angie came to the full realization that she has mashed potatoes for brains.
Angie had accidently deleted Giada's Minestrone recipe pictures. all forty of them.
She shook her fist and shouted, "WHY, WHY?"
But she knew why.
Because she has mashed potatoes for brains.
But like most strong heroines, Angie picked herself up off
the linoleum floor,
told the cats and dog to quit staring at her,
dusted off her apron
and proceeded to make a Veggie Minestrone recipe instead to share with the world.
But first we have Rachael Ray's Mighty Minestrone Soup recipe!
Don't let the list of ingredients scare you off this recipe.
It is really quite easy and quick to make, full of hearty flavor and exceedingly healthy!
Look at that yummy pancetta!
I didn't know exactly what pancetta was, so I went to the deli at my grocery and they sliced 1/4 lb. off for me. I assume it comes packaged too, not sure.
It is really quite easy and quick to make, full of hearty flavor and exceedingly healthy!
Look at that yummy pancetta!
I didn't know exactly what pancetta was, so I went to the deli at my grocery and they sliced 1/4 lb. off for me. I assume it comes packaged too, not sure.
And thus begins the sauteeing of the pancetta and the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook all until the vegetables are softened.
By the way, the pancetta aroma with the veggies is fantabulous!
Add the beans, chickpeas, herbs, tomatoes, stock and water to the pot and bring to a bubble. Add the kale or chard and cook until wilted...
Add the pasta and boil the soup until the pasta has cooked al dente.
Remove the soup from the heat and allow to cool about five minutes.
Serve with plenty of grated cheese at the table and some crusty bread for mopping.
This Mighty Minestrone soup is fantastic! The chickpeas bring a wonderful element of flavor as well as texture.
The kale or chard (I've used both) brings a lovely element to this dish as well.
The kale or chard (I've used both) brings a lovely element to this dish as well.
Now onto the Veggie Minestrone!!!
Oh. My. Goodness!
This Veggie Minestrone is so healthy and truly one of the easiest soups ever to make!!
We start with sauteeing the onion.
And move onto adding the stock, zucchini, carrots, beans, celery, tomatoes and spices.
This is starting to look DELISH! Let simmer on medium-low for 25 minutes.
Can you even believe how easy this is?
OH! Look who came to visit!!!
My niece dog Princess Hemi!!
Hi Princess!!!
Auntie Angie loves you Princess!!!!
(Princess is what we would call,
um, full-figured.)
Princess Hemi, stay still, so I can take your picture pu-leeeze!
Okay Hemi, Penelope is not afraid of you so you can stop trying to scare the cat!
Clearly, it's not working. You're too adorable and sweet and cuddly-snooky to scare anyone!!!
Clearly, it's not working. You're too adorable and sweet and cuddly-snooky to scare anyone!!!
What?
You don't like to be called sweet and adorable and cuddly-snooky?
Hemi, don't leave!!!
I'm sorry I called you sweet and adorable and cuddly-snooky!!!
I promise I won't do that anymore. STOP!
You are a regal dog! Yes, you are so mean, grrrrrrrrrrrr!!
I'm scared of your mean bulldogly cuddly-adorableness, oh sorry Hemi, come back!
Come back you scary mean-scary-growly dog you; there's Veggie Minestrone to eat! Come back Princess!
I'm soooorrryy!
Well after all that activity, I plate up a big bowl of
Veggie Minestrone.
And I share this tasty Veggie Minestrone with two turkeys.
Gobble gobble.
Gobble gobble.
And so the evening ends with our heroine eating a super quick, super healthy version of Veggie Minestrone and making certain not to delete the pictures she took of the process.
And Angie was happy once again.
The End.
