Dutch Girl Minestrone Soup

I love vegetable soup, any kind, these soups are healthy and filling, virtually fat free, and can be enjoyed anytime of the year. This version of minestrone soup has no cabbage, but you can add 1 cup of shredded cabbage when you are sautéing the carrot/celery/onion, to maximize the flavour of the vegetables. I do have another soup recipe that uses cabbage and will post it when I make it, if anyone is familiar with the Pickle Barrel Restaurant, their sweet and sour cabbage soup is truly delicious, and mine is similar(but uses no ketchup).

Minestrone Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2-3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
3-4 stalks celery, with the leaves diced (white part removed)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 medium red onion diced
3-4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 24 ounce bottle strained Tomatoes
1-28 ounce can San Marzano whole tomatoes
1-14 ounce can mixed beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen green beans
1 beef bouillon cube
1 vegetable bouillon cube
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon thyme, dried or
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, left whole
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, or
3-4 leaves fresh basil, torn into small bits
1 tablespoon parsley, dried
1 bay leaf
2/3 cup macaroni
Shavings of Parmesan

In a large stock pot, melt the butter and oil, add the carrots, celery, (cabbage if you are using it), and onion, stir to coat in butter/oil, cook and stir over medium heat, until the carrots start to change color, then add the garlic, cook and stir well for about 1 minute, then add the strained tomatoes, the whole tomatoes, and 1 liter of water, stir all well, bring mixture to boil for 3-5 minutes, then add the rest of the ingredients except the pasta, turn heat to simmer for 25 minutes, stir and taste the broth, add more water or seasoning, if needed, remove the whole fresh thyme, add the macaroni, turn heat to medium high and stir to keep macaroni from sticking to the bottom, cook on medium high until macaroni starts to get soft, then turn to low, once macaroni is cooked the way you like it, turn soup off, shave Parmesan cheese into individual servings, Enjoy!