crock pot minestrone soup

ingredients:

•   1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy)

•   32 oz container reduced sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)

•   2 tsp olive oil

•   1/2 cup chopped onion

•   1 cup diced carrots

•   1/2 cup diced celery

•   2 garlic cloves, minced

•   1 (28 oz) can petite diced tomatoes

•   Parmesan cheese rind (optional)

•   1 fresh rosemary sprig

•   2 bay leaves

•   2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

•   1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

•   1/2 tsp kosher salt and fresh black pepper

•   1 medium 8 oz zucchini, diced

•   2 cups chopped fresh (or frozen defrosted) spinach

•   2 cups cooked small pasta such as ditalini or elbows (al dente)

extra parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

instructions: crock pot version

Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and sauté until tender and fragrant, about 15 minutes.

Transfer to the crock pot along with the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, basil and parsley, cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/4 cups soup into 8 bowls with 1/4 cup pasta in each and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Note: My sister sent me this recipe and she uses chicken Italian meatballs stuffed with mozzarella in the ‘bacon section’ at Publix. She found the recipe via skinnytaste.com.