Mastro Minestrone

I love Olive Garden's Soup, Salad and Breadsticks. I always get the Minestrone soup and have shied away from trying to make it myself b.c the recipes always seem weird or complicated. BUT I have found a solution. We had it for dinner tonight (and will have it again tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day...it makes a TON) with some good bread (you can locate in your local bakery department~or have your husband whip some up). I threw in some pre-cooked and frozen italian seasoned sausage for Douglas' bowl; didn't hear any complaints and had clean bowls at the end!

3 Tbsp e.v.o.o (that's extra virgin olive oil kids)
1 c. minced white onion~about 1/2 med onion(chopped would work fine, I used our food chopper thingee)
1/2 c. sliced and quartered zuchini (or just chopped)
1/2 c frozen cut green beans (it calls for italian style but couldn't locate those and it didn't seem to matter in the end)
1/4 c celery-chopped really small
4 tsp garlic (about 4 cloves)
4 c. swanson veggie broth (about 2 cans)
(I also added 1 can beef broth for extra umph)
2 15 oz cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 15 oz cans (you pick: either great northern beans or garbanzo beans) rinsed and drained
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes (no drain--Personally I'd use 2 if you like tomatoes)
1/2 c finely sliced carrots, (juliene style) I just bought them pre-cut in a bag
2 Tbsp parsely, fresh and minced (or I just used 1/2 tsp dried)
1 1/2 tsp oregano (dried)
1/2 tsp salt--you can add more if you want more flavor
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried thyme
3 c. hot water
4 c. fresh spinach, finely chopped (about 1/3-1/2 bag)
1 c. small shell pasta (or any type pasta you want--don't recommend noodles)

Ok, in a mega-huge stock pot:
1. sautee oil, onion, celery, garlic, green beans, zuchini for 5 min on med-high
2. add tomatoes, broth, beans, carrots, water, and spices, bring to a boil and simmer 20 min
3. add spinach, pasta; boil for another 20 min or until pasta is done
You're done!

I did add the sausage to Douglas' bowl but otherwise this was YUMMY, easy, and very healthy! AND it tasted JUST LIKE the stuff from Olive Garden.