Rice and Beans!

Being from the European culture, a recipe that is well known and very good for you is “Minestrone”. It’s been a recipe in my family that has been passed down to many generations. I have decided to share this recipe with the class, it is very simple to make and prepare as long as you always make it with love!

Minestrone

Ingredients
• 6 cups of homemade broth
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 leek, sliced
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 2 celery stick, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ cup of lentils
• ½ cup barley
• 1 cup of mixed beans
• 1 stem of broccoli
• 2 cup uncooked spinach
• 3 tomatoes peeled and finely chopped
• 1 tbsp pesto sauce
• Salt and pepper
• Parmesan cheese

Directions
1- In a large saucepot, heat the broth to simmering.
2- In a saucepot heat the olive oil. Stir in the leek, onion and garlic until golden. Add carrots and celery and cook on medium heat for 6 minutes.
3- Add potatoes and cook for 2-4 minutes.
4- Pour in the hot broth and stir well. Add in the lentils, barley, mixed beans, broccoli and spinach.
5- Stir well and add tomatoes, add in bay leaf and seasons with salt and pepper and let boil for an hour and a half.
6- Grated parmesan on top and serve.

As you can see this recipe is very simple and easy to make. I enjoyed making this soup with my mom to serve for all my family. When making this dish you know that it will be a great and healthy meal with all the beans, lentils, barley etcetera that provide so many good nutrients and protein without having your meat as an ingredient. When severing this dish your happy to serve it with a smile because you know that everyone will get the satisfaction and healthy benefits they need. This minestrone has great health and environment benefits because its fresh and healthy ingredients and all come from the garden that also benefits on the environment. Many North Americans diets are very bad and by having minestrone soup at least once a week it is a great way to make your diet much better.