What's for Dinner?

This is one of my favorite recipes--Minnestrone Soup. Perfect for a rainy day like today! I have tried a few other minestrone recipes, and this is my favorite. It is meatless, which I like, and it is so filling, but you could add meat if you (or your husband) likes to have meat for dinner... It looks like a lot of ingredients, but half of them are just opening up a can and emptying it into the pot, so it's not really that bad. Also, after I make it, I usually have to add more broth/water before serving because all those good things soak up the juices.

Makes about 8 1 1/2 cup servings

3 Tbls. Olive Oil
1 c. minced onion
1/2 c. chopped Zucchini
1/2 c. frozen cut Italian green beans
1/4 c. minced celery (about 1/2 stalk)
4 tsp. minced garlic
4 c. vegetable broth
2 (15 oz.) cans red kidney beans, drained
2 (15 oz.) cans small white beans or great northern beans, drained
1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1/2 c. carrots, julienned or shredded
2 Tbls. minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
3 c. hot water
4 c. fresh baby spinach (optional)
1/2 c. to 1 c. small shell pasta

1. Heat 3 Tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large stock pot.
2. Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent
3. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrots, hot water, and spices.
4. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency.

Thanks, Emily for this great tag! I am tagging Angie, Tammy, and Rachel to post "What's for dinner", too!