January is Soup Month - Minestrone

January is National Soup Month and with near zero temps in Louisville, KY, we have been doing a LOT of soup. Normally, I would pair a soup with a salad, but no, too cold - all my vegetables are in the soup! This is a healthy choice with protein, fiber - both soluble and insoluble - vitamins, and iron. 

With a bit of organic ground pork left over from my last Chinese dish, I decided on a Minestrone, keeping in mind, most everyone has their own recipe for Minestrone!

This serves 2, but is easily doubled or tripled

1/4 lb. ground pork (Italian sausage even better, but working with what I have)
1 can tomatoes (I use no-salt)
1 can chicken or beef or vegetable broth
1-2 cans water as needed
1 can Great Northern beans, undrained
1 small onions, chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped (or sub garlic powder)
1/4 cup dry elbow macaroni (optional)
salt to taste
dried Italian seasoning to taste (start with 1/2 tsp.)
1/4 tsp. ground fennel (if not using Italian sausage and you want to mimic its flavor)
red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
black pepper to taste
chopped fresh parsley should you have any available
optional vegetables you may have on hand: zucchini and/or spinach
grated Parmesan cheese

Brown ground pork in dutch oven. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook 2 minutes. Add garlic. Cook one minute to bring aroma. If using garlic powder, add when adding liquid ingredients. Add canned tomatoes, and broth and dried seasonings. Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer for 20 minutes. Add beans.
If using zucchini, add after 10 minutes. Add elbow macaroni at this time if using (you may need to add more water). Taste for seasoning: add additional salt, black pepper, scant dried red pepper flakes or hot sauce. If using fresh spinach, add now and place lid on pot to quickly steam spinach. Grated Parmesan gives the soup a rich flavor. Fresh parsley is a nice touch.

Favorite Pampered Chef tools: 
Rockcroc Dutch Oven (can be used in oven, on stovetop, microwave, grill, under broiler AND can safely go in the dishwasher!) https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/charlaine/shop/Cookware/Cookware/RockcrokDutch+Oven/1781
Mix and Chop to separate the ground pork in the dutch oven https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/charlaine/shop/Cooking+Tools/Cookware+Utensils/Mix+%27N+Chop/2583
Manual Food Processor - to chop onion, celery, carrots - I have used this tool more than I ever thought! https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/charlaine/shop/Cooking+Tools/Mandolines%2C+Slicers+%26+Choppers/Manual+Food+Processor/2593
Italian seasoning - high quality mix https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/charlaine/shop/Food/Seasoning+Mixes/Italian+Seasoning+Mix/9719