***FOOD***

One of my resolutions for this year is to include more FOOD on my blog. I love to cook, collect cookbooks, try new recipes! There is a sea of fabulous foodie blogs out there and I have been scouring them, looking for stuff to cook. So once a week I will share my recipes, where I get them from, hook you up to some cool blogs and hopefully inspire you to get your pots out***

It is blessed cold here in London Ontario so I thought soup was a good thing.. And since the holidays are over and my fridge is still full I cleaned it out and made my version of Minestrone soup.

5-6 chicken breasts, skin and bones included -

cover them with water throwing in an onion, skin and all, a bunch of garlic cloves, skin and all,

carrots roughly chopped, celery leaves too... A bunch of peppercorns, a bay leaf or two. Bring it to a boil, reduce to simmer and let it go for a few hours or so.

Strain and if you want let it cool and remove the fat.

Add a zucchini chopped, carrots chopped, shallots or onions, chopped, tomatoes ( I used some grape tomatoes that I had on the counter, thrown in whole) the chicken from the stock cut up into bite sized pieces. Add whatever you want or have in your fridge. I also add a wedge of good parmesan cheese - just thrown in for flavor. Yank it out before serving.

Add a can or two of white or red kidney beans at the end of cooking to warm through.

I also add potatoes cut up small or a cup of small pasta close to the end of cooking.

Season liberally with salt and pepper...

I served this tonight with Country Biscuits. I got this recipe from Wives with Knives. Check out her blog HERE and look under the January 1, 2010 post for the recipe.

Delicious hot out of the oven with butter***

Enjoy everyone...