THE Soup

Okay, the soup.

Last night we were having guests over.  The day had been just slightly hectic after our lovely outing.  One of those afternoons where errands just don't go as planned and babies don't do what you think they will (should).

I knew that Safeway's deli soups were on sale and had decided to just get some of that and some bread bowls for dinner.  Quick and easy.

But as I was driving to the store, I changed my plan.  I wanted soup still, but something healthy and delicious.  I wanted to know every ingredient that went into my bowl.  Turns out it was a good Plan B.  It was delicious and so full of good-for-you ingredients.  Even Andy ate two bowls and refused my offer to serve him up just the meat part of the soup.  That is a SERIOUS victory.

When I cook I just kind of throw stuff together, so I'll do my best to give you an idea of how it all came together...

Here's what went into it (I made a huge pot and sent some home with our guests and had it for lunch and will have it for dinner again tonight, so if you make it you can half the ingredients):

2 packages of lean ground beef

2 cans of diced tomatoes

1 can of kidney beans

Approx. 6 cups water

1/2 box of orzo pasta

1 zucchini

1/2 head of cabbage (chopped)

1/2 large sweet onion (finely diced)

3 stalks celery (chopped)

4 cloves of garlic (minced)

Olive Oil

herb seasoning

salt

pepper

fresh basil

I browned the hamburger in a big pan with 1 clove of garlic and the herb seasoning and set it aside.

In a huge soup pot, over mediumish heat, I poured in some Olive Oil and let it heat slightly.  Then I added the garlic and onions and let them soften.  I added a bit of salt and the celery and covered the pot to let the juices get going.  Then I added the water and let it all come to a boil.  When the water was boiling I added the orzo and put the cabbage and zucchini in the steamer basket that goes over my pot (they could have all gone into the boiling water at the same time.  I have no logical reason that I chose to steam the veggies, but it worked).  I let the pasta and veggies cook.  When the cabbage was soft, I poured it into the pot, as well as the meat and the cans of tomatoes and beans.  I added a little more salt and pepper and let it simmer until we were ready to eat it.  Before I served it up I ripped about 5 leaves of fresh basil and mixed it in.

I served it with grated fresh parmesan-reagginao (sp?) cheese and some bread that I baked into large croutons.  

I can't wait to eat it again tonight!