Minestrone Soup

So old man winter is still in control of the weather and last month our soup was a big hit. So this month we feature another family favorite soup. If you missed last months recipe check it out here if you are interested. Again, this is a fairly easy one pot meal. It will fill the house with delicious smells teasing you with what is to come. It is good by itself but we love it with a good bit of salty parmesan cheese on top.  Enjoy!

Heartwarming & satisfying Minestrone soup for the cold winter months.

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Cook: 1 hour 20 min.
MAKES: 6 servings

Ingredients
1 pound ground Sausage
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 small zucchini, cut in half horizontally & sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
32 oz. Beef Broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 can (15-1/2 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15-1/2 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Freshly shredded parmesan cheese

Directions
In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, onion, carrots, garlic and basil until sausage is cooked through and vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the zucchini, tomatoes, broth, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add beans; cook 20 minutes longer. Garnish with freshly shredded parmesan cheese. Yield: 6 servings.