Minestrone Soup - Italian Vegetable

Long process and many fresh ingredients but worth it!!!!  Helpful to read  this recipe FIRST!

Prep time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves 8 - 10 as a first course

Ingredients: 
step 1
4 Tbs. olive oil
2 strips bacon
3 carrots
3 stalks Celery
2 Tbs fresh Parsley
1 Sage leaf (or 1 tsp dry rubbed sage)
4 leaves fresh Basil leaves( 1 Tbl dry)
3 cloves garlic
1 Large onion

step 4
2 med. potatoes
1/2 cup cauliflower Florettes
2 med. zucchini
1/4 cabbage
1 cup fresh spinach
28 oz can diced tomatoes in sauce
1/2 can kidney beans with liquid
1/2 cup Dilatini OR orzo pasta
2 quarts chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbs, grated Parmesan cheese
fresh Baguette

DIRECTIONS:
cook battuto (Flavor) - caramelized vegetables adds to flavor the soup
HINT: I usually double or triple the Battuto when I make it AND freeze half for the next soup.

STEP 1  BATTUTO  
2 strips bacon cut up
1 carrot cut up in chunks
1 stalk celery with leaves chopped
2 Tbs fresh Parsley
1 Sage leaf or 1 tsp dry rubbed sage
4 leaves fresh Basil leaves
2 cloves garlic smashed and peeled
1 med onion chopped coarsely
4 Tbs. olive oil

STEP 2
Create a paste of all these ingredients by one of these methods:
Food processor-add all ingredients into processor, add oil last, process by pulsing - should end up being a sticky paste
 Blender - add oil add ingredients diced fine before placing in blender container make sure all pieces are a paste,,,allow air to get to bottom by stirring frequently
By Hand: - Chop all ingredients as fine as possible

STEP 3:
Saute Battuto: in  heavy bottomed 8 quart pot on Med heat, until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes and smelling good, stir occasionally so Battuto does not stick to the bottom or burn

...While battuto is sauting do step 4

STEP 4
Prepare the ingredients that go into soup...separated into 3 bowls because veggies are added in order of their speed of cooking

Bowl 1
1 clove garlic crushed
2 stalks celery 1/4 inch pieces
2 peeled carrots 1/4 inch cubes
1 potato peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 med onion cut in thin slices
1 Potato shaved like potato chips with peeler

Bowl 2
1/2 cup cauliflower broken into florets
1/2 cup broccoli       "            "         "
2 med. zucchini 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cabbage -1/8 inch slices
1 cup spinach chopped coarse
28 oz can diced tomatoes in sauce

Bowl 3
1/2 cup kidney beans
1/2 cup Dilatini OR Orzo pasta

STEP 5  Add 2 quarts of chicken stock to browned BATTUTO stir well
bring to a simmer on high ...5 mintues
turn heat down to just simmer soup
 Add bowl 1 ingredients
warm through ... simmer 10 minutes
 Add Bowl 2 simmer 15 minutes
 Add bowl 3 - cook 10 more minutes

salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
place in large bowls for Lunch and
Top with a little parmesian cheese
serve with Warm toasted french bread and Butter
yes the real stuff!
mmmmmmmmmmm...

Bon Appetit!!!