The Comfort of Friendship and Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe
“Never underestimate the power of your words and deeds. With a few words, you can change a person’s life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other’s lives to impact on another in some way.” -Joyce Meyer
When I think of the power of words, a few friends come to mind. They seem to always build others up and truly care about the lives of others, when realistically they could be negative and drowning in their own sorrows, worries, and hardships. But no … it’s always positive and genuine. They seem to be … comforting.
I recently shared a bowl of minestrone soup with these friends. A comforting bowl of soup.
There’s something about friendship + soup, both comforting and delicious at the same time.
I whipped up a new recipe that my sister told me about, adapted from Olive Garden, using what I already had in my kitchen. Which meant this time of year, no fresh zucchini.
It was delicious! So good, I want to share it with you today!
An easy recipe to keep ingredients on hand for, and good enough for company, too!
So when it comes to provision, goodness, our health, so many blessings in life – I raise my hand to being more positive and comforting to those around me.
When’s the last time you enjoyed a cup or bowl of soup with a friend?
Get the Recipe:
Minestrone Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium minced white onion
- 1 can cut green beans
- 2 stalks minced celery
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cans, 15 oz Bush’s Beans kidney beans, drained
- 2 cans, 15 oz Bush’s Beans great northern or small white beans, drained
- 1 can, 14 oz diced tomatoes
- 2 chopped carrots
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 3 cups hot water
- 4-5 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup small shell pasta
Instructions
- Measure olive oil into a large stock pot and heat on medium.
- Put the onion, celery, garlic, and carrots into the pot and saute for about 5 minutes or until the onions become translucent.
- Add the vegetable broth, drained tomatoes, beans, green beans, hot water and spices to the pot.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the spinach leaves and the pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
Although I do have a blogging relationship with Bush’s Beans, this post is not sponsored today. :)
What a deliciously hearty soup!
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Friendship + Soup is such a beautiful thing. Great post. Great recipe.
My husband loves this soup, I’ve got to make it for him!
Such a wonderful classic with loads of healthy goodies!
This looks so comforting and totally delicious.
i love that quote! there is definitely so much that you can share with friends over a nice bowl of soup – so much conversation to be had and so many memories to make. i love food :) and you!
Julie, one day we’ll meet in person. Maybe over a bowl of soup! :)
I love minestrone soup! One of my favorites! And friends are such a wonderful blessing. Lovely post and lovely blog. :)
Looks so easy and delish! I love a good bowl of soup.
Can’t go wrong with a warm bowl of minestrone.
This looks so comforting!! I want to put this on my menu for next month. I can’t wait to try it.
Hi Sandy,
We are all home sick and waiting for a snowstorm to hit so I have spent the morning going through all your gardening posts. This month is always a hard one as I am wanting to be gardening and start making our camping reservations for the summer. This July we will camp in Glacier, can’t wait! Anyways I have a few gardening questions?
-Did you have much success with asparagus or were they too difficult to grow?
-do you use a fertilizer through the growing season, such as miracle grow?
-What’s your favorite variety of beets to grow?
-Can you use seeds bought over a year ago?
-Are you still using the AeroGarden? I’m contemplating purchasing one.
-You show straw and mention it quite a bit. Do you buy a bale of it and let it sit for 2 years or is that something you buy at a farm supply store? If you do buy it and let it sit do you have a garden mouse problem?
Sorry for so many questions but I am still always inspired to plan and create whenever I visit your blog. Thanks so much for the continued inspiration!
Any time I’ve eaten with friends lately it hasn’t been cold enough for soup, but today’s ice storm would suffice for “cold enough”!
Could you please explain the number of plates under the soup bowl? They look so pretty. Where would you purchase these sizes of plates?
Hi, CJ! I’ll start from the bottom up. The charger is from MacKenzie-Childs. The glass dinner plate I bought a set of 24 at a yard sale, but you can purchases these at Dollar Tree – yes, really! Then the small black/white dessert plate I bought at TJ Maxx. Ending with the soup bowl – my favorite, standard-white, wedding dishes from 22 years ago! I hope that helps. It’s a fun look to layer the plates/dishes!
I haven’t made minestrone soup in a long time, it is perfect for these cold February days and also full of healthy goodness – thanks of the reminder.
Have a lovely day,
Jade
So glad you have wonderful friends who bless you like I am sure you bless them!
Minestrone is one of my favorites, ever. This sounds soooo good. Especially with the cold weather we are having.
I need to make this – I know my husband would devour it!!