Minestrone Soup
3 Tbsps olive oil
1 cup minced white onions (about 1 small onion)
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup frozen cut italian green beans
1/4 cup minced celery (about 1/2 stalk)
4 tsps minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
4 cups vegetable broth (Swanson is good *note: Do not use chicken broth!*)
2 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained
2 (15 ounce) cans small white beans or great northern beans, drained
1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup carrots, julienned or shredded
2 Tbsps minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsps dried oregano
1 1/2 tsps salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried thyme
3 cups hot water
4 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup small shell pasta

Heat three tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency.
Makes about eight 1 1/2 cup servings.

CALORIES 397(16% from fat); FAT 7.2g (sat 1.1g, mono 4.1g, poly 1.5g); PROTEIN 20.7g; CHOLESTEROL 1mg; CALCIUM 169mg; SODIUM 935mg; FIBER 15.2g; IRON 8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 65.3g

My notes: The minestrone soup from the Olive Garden is probably my absolute favorite soup (unfortunately for Seth, he's not a huge fan of O.G....he'd much rather have some "real" Italian food!) So, when I found this recipe I was excited to try it out...and even more excited when it actually tasted VERY similar to the soup at the restaurant! I made half of the recipe just in case it didn't turn out very good. I left the celery out because I don't really like the stuff. I also left the spinach out, by accident, but I'll definitely include it the next time I make it (spinach isn't my favorite, but I know that it's very good for me and try to eat it when I can!). Now Seth doesn't have to suffer through some imitation Italian while I enjoy a couple bowls of yummy minestrone!