The 5:00 p.m. phone call

The telephone rings at our house.  If it is around the dinner hour, we usually try to guess which child is calling and what cooking advice they are asking for.  Sometimes the call comes earlier, when they are in the grocery store trying to remember the ingredients to purchase for a recipe.  The most memorable was when Megan called in the afternoon, said she had hamburger thawed for dinner with the request "what can I make for dinner"?  It needed to be easy, fast and with limited ingredients.  It makes me smile.  As I was thinking about things to include in my blog, I decided to put out some recipes - tried and tested.  Perhaps the phone will ring less, but I hope not!  Moms like to feel needed.  Here is the recipe from our last family dinner.  I got this recipe in a cooking class taught by Marguerite Henderson.  I made a few changes and it has become one of our favorites.

COUNTRY STYLE MINESTRONE

1/4 cup olive oil (I use extra-light virgin)
1/4 lb. pancetta or bacon, diced (I use turkey bacon - 8 slices)
1 large onion, peeled and diced
1 rib celery, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 T minced garlic
3/4 bag of coleslaw or broccoli slaw
1 large potato, peeled and diced
2 cups canned chopped Italian tomatoes (I used a quart of my home canned stewed tomatoes)
2 15 oz. cans cannellini or white great northern beans, drained
4 cups chicken broth
1 T salt (I never add salt, there is plenty in the chicken broth)
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 cup dry orzo pasta
2 cups water (I rarely add water - my family prefers it thick)

I usually dice at least the onions and garlic before starting this recipe.  A second set of hands is great to cut down on prep time!

In soup pot heat olive oil.  Add bacon and saute for 3-5 minutes until golden brown.  Add onion and cook for 2 or 3 minutes.  Add celery, carrots and garlic and cook an additional 5 minutes.  Add slaw, potato, tomatoes, beans, broth and spices.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes.  Add pasta (and extra water if desired) and cook until pasta is done.  I serve this with shredded Parmesean cheese.