Ontario Bean Soup with Basil

Ingredients:

• Butter, 1/4 cup
• Onion (finely chopped), 1
• Garlic clove (minced), 1
• Potatoes (shelled and cubed), 4
• Carrot (peeled and cubed), 4
• Stalks celery (finely chopped), 2
• Chicken stock, 6 cups
• Peeled tomatoes (chopped), 1 tin
• Salt, 1 tsp
• Ground pepper, 1/2 tsp
• Basil (finely chopped), 1/2 bunch
• French style green beans, 1 cup
• Peas, 1 cup
• Romano beans, 1 cup
• White kidney beans, 1 cup
• Red kidney beans (our addition, not from the originaal recipe), 1 cup
• Pasta shells, 1 cup
• Parsley (finely chopped), 2 tbs
• Romano cheese (grated)

Preparation:

In a large pot, melt the butter and sauté the onions for 5 minutes.

Add the garlic, potatoes, carrots and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes stirring constantly.

Add the stock, tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the green beans, peas,the 3 different beans and the pasta. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the parsley and serve sprinkled with cheese.