Garden Patch Minestrone

 

     This Garden Patch Minestrone comes to us from Betty Crocker and is conveniently made with a box of Hamburger Helper.  A very good camping recipe, chop the vegetables at home, place them in zip lock bags then all you have to do is open a couple of cans and add the water when you're ready for dinner.  Be sure to light a generous amount of briquettes, not only will you need to saute the veggies over a full spread of coals, you'll need to cover the lid with enough to bring the soup to a good, strong bubble.  The Hamburger Helper creates a rich, beefy broth and with the fresh vegetables you'd never guess this filling minestrone was made with anything out of a package.

Garden Patch Minestrone
2 Tblsp olive oil
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced (1 cup)
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced (1 cup)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped OR 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 medium zucchini and/or yellow summer squash, cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4 inch pieces
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves OR 1 Tblsp dried
1 5.6 oz box Hamburger Helper beef pasta
1 15 oz can cannellini OR dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
5 cups water

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Saute oil, carrots, celery, onion and garlic over a full compliment of coals until vegetables are almost tender, about 10 minutes.
     Move bottom coals to a ring around base of dutch oven.
     Stir in zucchini, basil, uncooked pasta and sauce mix (from Hamburger Helper box), beans, tomatoes and water.
     Cover lid with as many coals as needed to bring soup to strong bubble.
     Simmer for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are cooked the way you like them.
     Serve with grated Parmesan cheese; makes 6 servings.

Saute carrots, celery, onions and garlic over a full
compliment of coals

Add remainder of ingredients

Simmer for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender

An easy Hamburger Helper camper's minestrone