Gambardella's Minestrone Soup Recipe

• 1/2 c. dry cannellini or possibly great
•     northern beans
• 1/2 c. dry red kidney beans
• 1/2 c. dry garbanzo beans
• 1/2 c. dry lentils
• 1/4 c. dry split peas
• 1 sm white potato, peeled and diced
• 4 c. chicken or possibly beef, (4 to 5)
•     broth
• 2 pkt frzn Italian, (16 ounce pkgs)
•     vegetables
• 1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lrg onion, peeled and minced
• 4 x cloves garlic, peeled and
•     minced
• 1 med red bell pepper, stemmed
•     seeded and minced
• 3 lrg stal celery, diced
• 1 med bulb fennel, minced
• 1/3 c. fresh basil, minced
• 1/2 c. fresh oregano, minced
• 1/4 c. parsley stems, minced
• 1/4 tsp dry rosemary, crushed
• 1 Tbsp. fennel seeds
• 1 Tbsp. coarse salt
• 1 tsp freshly grnd black pepper
• 1 c. fresh ripe tomatoes, diced
•     Or possibly peeled and diced canned
•     tomatoes
•     cooked pasta or possibly rice

Directions