With holidays right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about presents and spreading holiday cheer and joy. My favorite way to warm up my friends during the cool winter months is with a steaming cup of soup!
Friendship soup is delicious and easy, and even makes a great gift, because it relies heavily on dried ingredients. To give it as a gift, just put dried ingredients (beans, pasta, veggie bouillon and spices in a plastic gift bag and tie it tightly. Put in the card the recipe with the note "just add tomatoes, garlic and onion" and your friends will be able to make Italian Friendship Soup anytime!
Here is the recipe--
Ingredients:
One cup white beans
One cup baby shell pasta
One veggie bouillon
One tablespoon Italian seasoning (like basil, oregano, parsley and thyme)
One medium onion, chopped
One can of diced tomatoes
Two cloves garlic, minced
Seven cups water
Veggie cheese shreds for garnish
Boil beans for 45 minutes then allow them to sit in the pot for an hour, or steep the beans in a pot overnight.
While beans are steeping, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is tender.
Rinse and drain.
Add veggie bouillon and Italian seasoning and seven cups of water.
Bring to a boil.
Add sauteed onion and garlic and simmer for 45 minutes.
Add pasta shells and boil for 25 minutes.
Reduce heat to simmer and add tomatoes.
Serve when soup is hot. Garnish with veggie cheese shreds.
Sure to warm the heart and soul!
Happy Holidays!
