ONE LAST WINTER DISH AND THEN COMES SPRING

photo of Italian restaurant sign - S. Auberle

With thanks for yet another snowstorm, here is one more
winter dish. I have no idea who created this hearty soup,
but I can assure you it's great on a wintry night...

ITALIAN VEGETABLE SOUP WITH BEANS & PESTO

- some olive oil
- (1) large onion, cut into dice
- (3) carrots, peeled & sliced
- (3) celery stalks, sliced
- (1) bell pepper, red or yellow, diced
- (2) medium potatoes, diced
- (1) 16 oz. can diced tomatoes w/roasted garlic
- (2) 15 oz. cans cannellini beans
- (3) cans chicken broth
- (7 oz.) baby spinach leaves
- (1) cup frozen green peas
- (8) oz. smoked turkey sausage or regular, or Italian
sausage, crumbled (meat optional)
- salt and ground black pepper
- prepared pesto (found in grocer's refrig. section)

Toss everything into crockpot, except peas and spinach
and cook on High about six hours. Last five minutes,
add spinach and peas, cook just till spinach wilts.
Season w/ salt and pepper. Add a spoonful of pesto,
to taste, to each serving of soup. This soup is so
colorful you don't know whether to eat it or
photograph it.

Serve with antipasto, good bread and flavored olive
oil, for dipping. And afterwards, you MUST have a
bite or two of chocolate to complete the evening.

Enjoy,

- mimi