warm up with csa minestrone

Last Friday I came home with my last CSA pickup from Gorman Farm. It was full of veg and I didn't want to waste a thing, so I made CSA Minestrone. You can make this with virtually any veg on hand. Here's what I did:

    Tools: 1 Baking sheet 1 large dutch oven or soup pot

Ingridients:

    1 large red onion, sliced into half moons 5 cloves of garlic, pulverized 3 large carrots, chopped 2 stalks of celery, chopped 1 small cauliflower, large chop 1 bunch of baby turnips, quartered 3 sweet potatoes, large dice 16 oz of garbonzo beans, (I buy mine dry, cook and reserve in the freezer) 2 quarts of chicken stock (homemade) 1 large jar of tomatoes (canned this summer) Lots of olive oil Bunch of dried herbs (2 tsps each: rosemary, thyme, oregano & a bay leaf) Pinch of dried red pepper flakes Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:

    -Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit -Place rack in center position -Chop vegetables and toss them onto the baking sheet, cover with olive oil, all herbs except bay, salt and pepper -Roast the vegetables for 30-40 mins -Meanwhile, put the stock, bay leaf, pinch of pepper flakes, tomatoes, beans and a pinch of salt into the soup pot and slowly warm up the liquids -When the vegetables are done, add them to the pot and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally

We served up the soup with a yummy Trader Joes baguette, but some ditalini noodles or tortelinis would be a great addition too. Enjoy this for lunch, or like we do as a quick dinner throughout the week. Mangia!