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SOUP Sunday MINESTRONE grain vegetable soup - Recipe Cost

( American / Metric measures)

>>>Soup base<<<

. about 12 cups (3 litres) of water in total

. 2 organic bouillon cubes (beef or chicken)

. 3 cups (700ml ) Italian tomatoes (purée)

. 1/2 cup (100gr) organic green lentils

. 1/2 cup (100 gr) organic brown 'basmati' rice

. 1/2 cup (100 gr) organic millet grain

>>>Vegetables<<< also interchangeable with your favourites

. 1 medium chopped onion (Spanish preferred)

. 1 medium finely chopped leek (optional)

. 1/2 a small cubed rutabaga (optional)

. 2 medium cubed carrots

. 1 very small chopped fennel (optional)

. 2 medium chopped celery stalks

. 3 small chopped zucchini (middle part carved out...except for the 'Lebanese - baladi' kind)

. 1 cup (240gr) of mashed Butternut OR Buttercup squash *

. 1 tsp. (5ml) of minced garlic (1 big clove)

>>Seasoning<< (I prepare this part a little ahead of time in a tiny bowl)

1/4 tsp. (1ml) each of and the following dried herbs: basil, garlic powder, marjoram, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon. Lastly...a pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

>>>note: Don't be concerned if you have only some of the above...be creative! These are herbs that I always hold in my pantry and use quite frequently to enhance all my meals.

. olive oil (extra virgin)

. parmeggiano reggiano grated cheese

>>>* About roasted and mashed Butternut Squash: Pre-roast the squash...mash it...use what you need and freeze the rest [usually about 1 cup (250ml) servings]. Place oven rack at bottom level and pre-heat the oven to 375F/190C/Gas 5. Slice the squash in the middle and lengthwise for the long squashes. Gut out the seeds and discard. Place each half...flesh down on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Poke a few holes everywhere with the point of your knife. Bake in the oven for about 30-45 minutes depending on the initial size of the squash. Take squash out of the oven and get ready to peel when it has reached a manageable handling temperature. Mash the squash and use for the recipe and store the rest for future recipes.