Tuscan Vegetable Soup

Traditional Italian Tuscan soup. A robust meal in itself, filled with hearty vegetables.

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons olive oil

1 medium zucchini, cut in half and sliced

1/2 large onion, chopped

2 stalks celery with leaves, cut in half and sliced

2 large carrots sliced

1/4 pound smoked ham (from deli), diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 head cabbage, washed and coarsely chopped

2 (28 ounce) cans tomatoes, chopped

2 Tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY

3 teaspoons dried basil

2 cups spinach leaves, chopped

3 cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

4 cups sourdough bread (day old), cubed

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

salt and pepper to taste

Honey Tips

How Honey Is Created

Honey is created when bees mix plant nectar, a sweet substance secreted by flowers, with their own bee enzymes.

Directions

Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Sauté next 6 ingredients about 10 minutes until softened. Add chicken broth, cabbage, tomatoes, honey, basil and spinach. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, puree half of the beans in a food processor. Add to soup with remaining beans. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add sourdough bread and cook for 10 minutes more. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
Serves: 8