An Italian Soup that would Make my Grandma Smile

Lately I've been coming across irritating things if you know what I mean. ; ) Sometimes when these irritating things happen I think of my Italian grandma. She didn't put up with monkey business from people and would tell them so. Oh if you could see the theatre of my mind at times.... It. is. so. Grandma. And don't worry Grandma...I'll be nice, my grandma was very nice and had a big heart, bigger than Texas but she was real. No undercurrents with Grandma. No sirrie-bobbie. : )

In honor of my Grandma and Grandpa Italiano I will post one of my favorite Italian soups. They would have loved this one.

So here we have the no-nonsense Italian soup, it's no nonsense but warms the soul just like my Grandma!

This should be just the thing for the upcoming September evenings...
~Robert Stock

A Most Very Italian Spinach and White Bean Soup
Melts in your mouth honey! (That's what my Grandma would have said!)

6 tablespoons olive oil
6 garlic cloves, chopped
3 large 16 oz. bags of frozen chopped spinach. (canned will do)
12 cups vegetable broth (I use the veggie bouillon cubes)
3 -4 cans of cannellini or white northern beans drained and rinsed
Parmesan cheese
black pepper
pasta, angel hair works well or spaghetti

Heat olive oil in bottom of a heavy pan on low. Add garlic and saute until fragrant but NO MORE. Only about 15 seconds. Browning garlic makes it bitter, that is a no-no and my grandma will come get you if you do that little thing. So don't. ; )

Get some water boiling for your pasta in a separate pot.

Add the spinach and saute a bit, a couple of minutes or so. Add the broth and beans. Sprinkle liberally over the top with your parmesan cheese. Cover and simmer until the beans are heated through, about 5 minutes. Season up with some black pepper to taste.

You should be cooking up some pasta by this time too, drain your pasta, this is the bed for your soup.

Ladle into soup bowls over the pasta and serve with parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top. Serve with a good bread and dinner is served!

This most heart warming soup will be shared at Mz. Helen's Full Plate Thursday today.

Also linked to Ultimate Recipe Swap 12.1.11 at LifeAsMom


















Our formal table area in the summer eve at the country here. The fancy carved chairs were very much like my Grandma's before Hurricane Carla hit in 1961. Poor Grandma lost her beautiful chair set along with her and Grandpa's home. She and Grandpa had a fishing camp and her chair set was probably one of the only fancy things she had. Grandpa had sang opera in New York as a young man arriving from Sicily...It's a long story....Another blog. : )

As Hurricane Carla approached, I was an 8 month old baby. The U.S. Army came and picked up my mom, dad, grandparents and me wrapped in a blanket as the soldiers helped us upon the Army caisson. Our home does still stand today, but as I wrote, Grandma and Grandpa's house on the water was blown away by this storm.

Our chair set was sold to my husband at a blessing of a price, the normal price per chair is what we paid for the entire set. A doctor's wife didn't want the set anymore. My hubby is a Realtor broker and he runs across all kinds of people. His favorites are the sweet ones who have sweet hearts and just need a bit of help in life. He loves working with them, even if it means making less. True life at it's best in the Lord. God blesses and gives the full fulfillment.

Come visit me also at My Forest Cathedral and meet my buddy!


Also, some reminders and helps for us all at Vision for a Godly Home.