Minestrone Soup

Found this recipe on the back of a package of soup mix dried beans. Very tasty. I substitute the bacon for a smoked pork jowl simmered for a couple hours in the six cups of water. Picked the meat off the jowl and used the ham stock for more flavour instead of the water.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 8 cups

Ingredients

• 1  cup  soup mix, dried bean mix
• 6  cups water
• 1⁄4 lb bacon, diced
• 2  cups onions, diced
• 1⁄2 cup celery, diced
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2  cups cabbage, chopped
• 1  cup elbow macaroni, dried
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

1. Place soup mix and water in a large soup pot. Bring to boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand 1 hour.
2. In a fry pan, saute bacon for 5 minutes. Drain off excess fat. Add onion, garlic and celery and saute for 5 more minutes. Add to the soup mix. Return to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours.
3. Add tomatoes, cabbage, macaroni, pepper and salt to taste.
4. Cook 15-20 minutes more.
5. Serve topped with grated parmesan cheese.