Fresh Hearty Minestrone Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3/4 cup dried navy beans
• 7 cups beef broth
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes
• 1 lb stew meat
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 bunch spinach, sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil or 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 cups green beans, cut in inch pieces
• 1 small zucchini, sliced
• 1/2 cup spaghetti, broken into 1 inch pieces
• fresh grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 bring beans to boil in beef broth.
• 2 boil for 2 minutes; then let stand 1 hour.
• 3 add all remaining ingredients, except green beans, zucchini and pasta.
• 4 cover and simmer until meat and beans are tender, about 1 hour.
• 5 add green beans, zucchini and pasta.
• 6 cover and simmer until done, about 20 minutes.
• 7 remove bay leaf.
• 8 ladle into bowls and sprinkle with parmesan.