adelheid_p | CSA Veggie Minestrone

I was over at a friend's house last night for dinner and someone brought zucchini soup. And I thought, gee, I could make a really good minestrone with the vegetables from my CSA from Edible Earth Farm. So I rummaged around and found I had a pound of dried cannellini beans in my kitchen. I quick soaked half of the pound of beans and then chopped up some zucchini, carrots, green, burgundy and yellow string beans, cabbage, tomatoes, onion and garlic*.

I went shopping for bins to organize the utility room from the upheaval due to replacing the water heater, while the cannellini beans finished soaking. (To quick soak beans: Add 3-4 cups hot water to the beans and bring them to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes and then cover and let them soak for 1 hour.)

When the cannellini beans finished soaking, I rinsed them and then started them simmering in 10 cups of water. While they were simmering, I sauteed the zucchini, carrots, onion and garlic in some olive oil.
After the beans had simmered for about an hour, I dumped all the veggies into the soup and added some Italian seasoning, oregano and basil to the mix. When the cannellini beans were done, I added a 15 oz can of Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce (no salt added) and some rosemary and Penzey's Fox Point seasoning and some salt. I also added about 1 cup of macaroni to cook.

*The garlic is not from my CSA.

ETA: The burgundy beans lose their color when cooked and turn green.