How´s a minestrone for a rainy day?
By marguicha
@marguicha (215154)
Chile
April 20, 2011 10:04am CST
When whether is not so warm, I love a soup of sorts. A minestrone is more than a soup: it is a whole meal. And besides that, it is a good way of getting rid of all sorts of odds and ends you have in your fridge as it is basically a veggie soup with a few additios.
Do you like minestrone? Do you know how to make it? Yesterday I made the last of the season´s pesto to have for my pasta and my minetrone. I keep it in the freezer and it is pasta one day and minestrone the next.
Share your experiences, please.
4 people like this
12 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Apr 11
I am a soup fanatic. I can eat soup each and everyday if I could. Although there are some really hot summer days I have been known to crank up the air conditioner so I can eat soup. 
I especially like minestrone because it is much more filling. By the way I love our meal/dishes discussions because I have gained so many different techniques to create so many dishes with my odds and ends. 
We have a very hearty soup called Sancocho. In which we used all sorts of Puerto Rican Vegetable potato like and add our homemade herbs to it and also we freeze it for a later time. I could go for it right now, we had a bad 77mph gusty wind storm yesterday and it is only 30 degrees today. mmm would come in handy right now. 
I especially like minestrone because it is much more filling. By the way I love our meal/dishes discussions because I have gained so many different techniques to create so many dishes with my odds and ends.
We have a very hearty soup called Sancocho. In which we used all sorts of Puerto Rican Vegetable potato like and add our homemade herbs to it and also we freeze it for a later time. I could go for it right now, we had a bad 77mph gusty wind storm yesterday and it is only 30 degrees today. mmm would come in handy right now. @marguicha (215154)
• Chile
20 Apr 11
I will have to check the Sancocho. I know what is "sancochar" so I´m supposing how this is done. I love these soups that mean I have the whole meal ready and only have to make a light salad.
. I love these soups that mean I have the whole meal ready and only have to make a light salad.@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Apr 11
We use the vegetable potatoes like Yautia, Name, potato, pig feet, only I won't eat the pig feet, lol.. Boil them all together until the vegetables are semi soft then add tomato sauce, sofrito, mojo criollo, salt, pepper, oregano, sazon con achote, and boil it all until hearty thickened.
Can I tell you that after reading your discussion I went and put a chicken in the oven. Also making White Rice and side of Pink beans with all the above Spanish herbs to thicken the beans sauce. MMM, I got so hungry I decided to cook.
So we will have nice leftover for a couple days, then I will take the chicken and make chicken dumpling with the leftovers. 
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Apr 11
I forgot Adobo Criollo too, is added to the above ingredients. I published a few recipes online and can I tell you I get an average of 300 - 1500 views daily of unique views of people searching from all over the world for my type of recipes.
You might want to do that marguicha, because I find you have a lot of great cooking ideas and tips. It was not easy for me because I am a cook as you go, but one day I found determination and published 3 so far.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
22 Apr 11
I have only had it out of a can. Is it easy to make? Can it be done in a slow cooker? The only thing I haven't included in the soups/stews/whatever? I made was some kind of pasta. I think it would be interesting to try something different as it would be easier to store it sooner than the soups that I have made.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
4 May 11
I hadn't thought about doing dry beans. I might also try a pea soup. At times I wish I would have bought a bigger slow cooker (this one is 1.89 liters). I don't know how much dry beans or peas I could put in there and reasonably expect to be able to put other things in there as well. I guess I could cook up a whole bag of beans or peas and then put some of them in a storage bowl for use later. I just wish that I knew more about putting things together better. Thanks for the suggestions.
@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
3 May 11
Dearest,
Any soup can be done in a slow cooker. I soak and boil some dry beans (in fact, I soak a kilo and save them boiled which you can do in your slow cooker). Have broth (or a soup cube) and place diced potatoes, carrots, green beans(diced), whatever veggies you have around. When almost done put some cut spaguetti (or you can use a bit of cooked leftovers). Add pesto at the end(can be bought at the super) and parmesan cheese.
The difference in ingredients from a normal chunky veggie soup are spaguetti (cut), the pesto and the grated cheese topping.
I don´t know if you are able to get kale (swiss chard) or spinach. If you do, shred a couple of leaves and throw thwm in the pot at the end.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85130)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 Aug 11
I'm not that wild about minestrone, but last time I went to Fresh Choice I had two of their soups, lentil curry and some sort of a spicy chicken. Both were pretty darn good...
@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
10 Aug 11
I make it from scratch. It might change as I nly use what I like
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
21 Apr 11
I make minestrone frequently. Can't stand the canned minestrone. There are so many good recipes for minestrone and I can even tweak them to my own style. I can eat soups all of the time and be satisfied. Not too fond of pesto so that won't be going into any of mine. Pasta can add so much to soups. I don't like the pasta mushy so will make and keep it separate and add it at the time to serve.
@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
21 Apr 11
I also make my own minestrone (and all other food). My minestrone varies according to what I put into it. As for pesto, I make my own and don´t use nuts as I like it better with just basil, garlic and olive oil. I don´t even put salt there as akll the uses I give to pesto include parmesan cheese which is salty.
@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
3 May 11
Actually it is very similar to a normail vegetable soup with many diced veggies (potatoes, carrots, green beans and dried beans), Fried diced onion if you wish or a soup broth or cube. There are three important extras: cut spaguetti (a bit), shredded kale or spinach and pesto. Top it with parmesan or reggianito cheese.
@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
21 Apr 11
Soups are good for many things as we are supposed to drink a certain amount of liquids every day. I asked a doctor yesterday and sh told me that not only glasses of water count.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
20 Apr 11
I think that a minestrone for a rainy day is a great idea! I love soup and I have never made my own soup before at all. Hopefully, someday, I will be able to make my own soup. I love vegetables so I know that I can put a yummy minestrone together. I hope that you will enjoy your minestrone on a rainy day.
@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
21 Apr 11
It is VERY easy to make. You only need a pot, broth and veggies. There are other items in a minestroni but you can start the easy way. Soak and boil some dry bean (a handful) and add. And also a few spaguetti. Add pesto (Just crushed basil with garlic and olive oil). Top with parmesan when serving.
@OpinionatedLady (5966)
• United States
20 Apr 11
I love home made soups of any kind. Minestrone has always been a favorite of mine though
. I love good hardy soups. Mind I love pesto too, your style is right up my alley
. I love good hardy soups. Mind I love pesto too, your style is right up my alley@marguicha (215154)
• Chile
20 Apr 11
And a bit of olive oil and not so little parmesan cheese on top! YUMMY!!!
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
21 Apr 11
For me it is refreshing to have it since last month no rainy day's would came on.
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
21 Apr 11
Honestly speaking i don't know what is minestrone?
On rainy days i prepare 'pakora' from flour of red gram, serve hot with tomato sause and chuteny made from tamarind, try this once..
Thanks for sharing
Happy posting, cheers.
Namastey.
Kalyani
Happy posting, cheers.
Namastey.
Kalyani
@dellahappy (260)
• China
21 Apr 11
it sounds great,i love soup too,but i have to say there are so many differences between our modus operandi and food,my hometown have a reputation of pasta in my country and it seems as i had never tasted minestrone you are discussing before what a pity,maybe i should do some research and try to make a whole meal as you said...by the way i like preserved eggs and pig muscle porridge,and sliced pasta...hope you have chance to taste it...and it's easy to cook
