Happy Friday! Woot!
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I love weekend meal prep to get ready for a healthy week. For me, it is essential. Otherwise I just eat chips and salsa because I’m too lazy/tired/unenthused to cook.
Recently, I have been making big pots of soups, stoups, and chilis to carry Rob and I through the week. Sure, I get sick of whatever it is by the third day eating it, but it does the job of keeping my eats healthy and done.
One such meal is Minestrone Soup. Easy to make, easy to store, and full of vegetables.
Minestrone Soup
Ingredients: (makes 8 servings)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Spices to taste: Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Parsley, Salt & Pepper
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 1 large Carrot, thinly sliced
- 1-2 stalks Celery, diced
- 1 small Zucchini
- 4-5 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup Green Beans
- 4 15 ounce cans of various beans of choice (mix them up!)
- 1 14 ounce can Diced Tomatoes
- 32 ounces/4 cups Vegetable Broth
- 3 cups Hot Water
- 1/2 cup Small Pasta
- 4 cups loosely packed Spinach leaves
I recommend having everything chopped and ready before you start mixing it all in the stock pot.
Directions:
1. With olive oil coating the bottom, heat a large stock pot to medium-high heat.
2. Saute onions, celery, and carrot about 4-5 minutes, or until onions are translucent.
3. Add zucchini and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes.
4. Stir in green beans, beans of choice, tomatoes, and seasonings.
5. Add broth and water and bring to a simmer.
6. Cover and simmer on low for 20-25 minutes until carrots and celery are tender.
7. Add pasta and cook 8-10 minutes, or until pasta is soft.
8. Remove from heat and stir in spinach and parsley. Season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
I accidentally put in a full box of noodles, which was way too much. Stick to the half cup!
RQ: How long does it take you to get sick of leftovers? Do you like having dinner prepared ahead of time?
I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
I change my mind all the time on what I want to eat so 3 days of the same thing just does not do it for me. I always end up with take out when I try to do that. Instead I make a list of what I plan on makeing that week, then i can always rearrange it based on what I feel like. It also forces me to cook, because otherwise everything I bought will go bad.
After the initial meal I usually only like to eat something about 2 more times. My husband is a great left-over eater and would eat the same thing every day without complaint!
Your minestrone recipe looks tasty!!
First off, I LOVE minestrone soup. My recipe is here: http://talesofaladyandherhusband.blogspot.com/2014/01/clean-minestrone-soup.html
Our recipes are fairly different and I think I will switch up some ingredients next time I make it! Yours looks super yummy!
I can usually have leftovers twice before I’m over them 🙂
This looks EXACTLY like what I’ve been looking for these last few days. We’re doing a budget makeover and meals like this ~ that last awhile, are healthy, and can be made inexpensively are perfect. Thank you, Brooke!
These types of meals are super cheap, especially with your big family! We also do chili, Church’s Chicken, and lasagna.
Your soup looks yummy!
I am the same way…after 3 meals of eating the same thing, I have to switch it up!!!
Thank you!