Recipe: Olive Garden Minestrone

Minestrone

1 c each finely minced
celery, onion, carrot
1/4 c butter
1/2 c each garbanzo beans
kidney beans
whole dried peas
white pea beans
3/4 c carrots sliced
3/4 c onion coarsely chopped
3/4 c celery sliced
3/4 c bell pepper chopped
1/2 c rice or barley
1 c shell macaroni
2 Tbsp minced parsley
1 tsp oregano & basil
2 tsp soy sauce
Parmesan cheese

Slowly saut finely minced onion, celery and carrot in butter until very brown. Add peas and beans and
about 3 quarts of water. Cook slowly until beans are almost done (check garbanzos - they take longest) about 2 to 2 hours. Add the remaining vegetables, rice and spices and more water if necessary and cook another hour. About 20 minutes before serving time add the macaroni and more water if needed. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese Pepper to taste Serve with crusty garlic bread.