Minestrone

With my stove on the fritz I have had to come up with other ways to cook and of course my crock pot is one of the first things that I turned to. Soups are some of my very favorite things to make at any given time so I chose to make minestrone today. The house smelled so good and it hit the spot.

It's so easy to throw everything in and go about the day. Just about a half an hour before serving add the pasta or cooked rice.
Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese and serve.

Minestrone:

1 med onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, sliced thin
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped (I like to use the small ones of different colors)
1 med zucchini, sliced into rounds
2 cloves garlic minced
2 14.5 oz. cans beef broth
1 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
2 15.5 oz. cans kidney beans, drained

1 15.5 oz can white beans
2 t. dried marjoram (crush again to bring flavor out)
¼ t. ground black pepper
1½ c. cooked rice, optional

or small pasta shell or Ditalini

Add all ingredients except rice or macaroni in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours. Add cooked rice and stir to combine. If using pasta add uncooked during the last half hour of cooking time.