Life is a Minestrone

Anyone who grew up in the seventies might recognize the title of my post. It was a song by a group called 10CC.

Regular readers of my blog will have often seen recipes for soups and know that  Minestrone is a big soup and that I like making soups.
It is a bit like life isn't it?  It's good to have the basic ingredients, and someone to share them with.

 

 Mid Winter Minestrone. Serves 2

2 carrots,
1 leek
1 red onion
half a pumpkin

Wash and peel and chop all the vegetables.
Place them in a large saucepan with some olive oil.
Cover the saucepan and cook over a low heat for about 20 minutes stirring every so often until soft. This makes sure the flavours develop.

At this stage add whatever seasonings you feel like, saffron, curry powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Some days you might like some ummph and on others just happy with a sprinkling of .salt and pepper. Maybe you could add a dash of the brandy that you bought to flame the Christmas pudding or some tabasco.

By trial and error you will make a minestrone that suits your taste and brings joy to those around you.

When you are happy with the flavour add some hot water and continue cooking over a low heat for another twenty minutes. If liked you can add a tin of beans or chick peas at this stage and a handful of pasta shapes.

Serve your minestrone with crusty bread and grated cheese and a swirl of olive oil.

Buon anno nuovo and Buon appetite.