Minestrone with Pesto

Here's the basic recipe form the cookbook. I didn't have any pesto, so I put in some fresh sweet basil from my herb garden. I used chicken stock, since I didn't have any vegetable stock. This recipe has a lots of prep work and only a short cooking time; it took me an hour total to finish cooking this.

3 TBS olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 Leek, sliced
2 carrots, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 potatoes, peeled, and diced small (I used red skin)
6 1/4 cup of vegetable stock or hot water, or a combination of both
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried thyme, or one fresh sprig
3/4 cup peas, fresh or frozen
2-3 zucchini, finley chopped
3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
2 cups of cooked beans (cannellini or chickpeas)
3 TBS pesto
Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Heat the oil in soup pot. Add in onions and leeks; cook 5 minutes. Add carrots, celery and garlic and cook over moderate heat for 5 minutes. Add in potatoes and cook 2-3 minutes more.

Pour in broth and herbs. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 10-12 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in peas if fresh and the zucchini. Simmer 5 minutes. Add frozen peas, if not using fresh. Cover pot and simmer 5-8 minutes or until potatoes are softened.

At 10 minutes before serving add in beans and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in pesto and serve with parmesan.

Omelet with Beans

I got this from a vegetarian cookbook and found it to be a nice light luncheon dish. I didn't have sesame seeds, so I substituted cheddar cheese for a topping.

2Tbs olive oil
1 Tsp sesame oil
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced and seeded
2 celery ribs, chopped
14 oz can small white beans (cannellini or northern(navy))drained
8 eggs
3 Tbs sesame seeds
salt and pepper to tatse

Heat the olive and sesame oil in a 12" cast iron or heat proof skillet. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook until softened, without coloring.

Add the beans and cook until heated through.

In a medium bowl beat eggs ans season with salt and pepper. Pour over ingredients in the pan.

Stie in egg mixture until it begins to stiffen. Then allow to firm over low heat until firm for 6-8 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and brown under the broiler.

Cut into 8 wedges and serve with a green salad and crusty bread.