Minestrone soup

Approx. 210 Calories per serving. Recipe makes 4 servings.

While this recipe isn't quick to make, it is fairly easy. This is just a basic minestrone recipe, but could easily be adjusted for other ingredients, such as adding cooked pasta or meat to the soup.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mixed dried beans
• 2 cups Swiss chard
• 2 cups zucchini
• 3 tomatoes
• 1/2 cup onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• approx. 8 cups water
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Soak beans overnight then rinse.
2. Add beans to a pot of boiling water.
3. Separate Swiss chard stems from the leaves.
4. Add the chopped chard stems, chopped onion, and all of the spices to the pot (adjust spices to your taste).
5. Boil for 30-60 minutes, or until beans are tender.
6. Add diced zucchini and tomatoes and then simmer for an additional 20 minutes.
7. Add chard leaves and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.