"I don't want to be sick anymore" Minestrone Soup

Since last Saturday, I have been battling a stuffy nose, scratchy throat, achy body, and just a general no-good cold! I made it through Halloween, but only because it's my motherly obligation to actually take the kiddo Trick-or-Treating. Otherwise, I'm not sure it actually would have happened. We went down to my parents' neighborhood to trick-or-treat, and my mom came along too. It ended up being really fun, and my little Ninja got way too much candy! (which is how it's supposed to go right?) Well, despite the fun we all had, being out in the cold for 2 hours sure didn't help my cold. The next morning, I felt even worse and it made for a long day at work. Wednesday I even had to take a day off and rest. Oh, and right around this time, Tiffani started getting the sore throat and sniffles too! So we're both feeling down and out.
Thursday at work, trying to come up with something yummy for dinner was difficult. Really, nothing sounds good at all when you're sick.... except!... Hearty hot soup that just makes your throat feel so much better from the first bite! So I was on the hunt for a delish minestrone soup, full of vitamin packed veggies to mend this nasty bug.

Hearty Minestrone Soup
adapted from allrecipes.com

ingredients
3 Tablespoons of coconut oil
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cups chopped celery
5 carrots sliced
2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
4 cups tomato sauce
1 cup canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can green beans
2 cups baby spinach, rinsed and roughly chopped
3 zucchinis, quartered and sliced
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup seashell pasta
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, for topping

In a large stock pot, over medium-low heat, heat coconut oil (of course, you could use olive oil - coconut oil is just my oil of choice) and saute garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. I'm really lazy sometimes and use the already chopped and jarred garlic. I should probably just get over it and use the fresh stuff, but you know what - i'm busy, and i haven't noticed a taste difference, so this is how it is for now.
Add onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add celery and carrots. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes.

Look at all those pretty fresh veggies! Do you really think I'm going to be able to stay sick much longer? Nope!
Add vegetable broth (or chicken if you prefer), water (I started with 1/2 cup and was just fine. The original recipe called for 2 cups of water and that just seemed excessive. You choose. I like a chunkier soup), and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and add kidney beans, green beans, spinach leaves, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. I only had dried herbs on hand, so I had to make do. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, the longer the better.
While your soup is simmering, fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add your pasta (I used those teeny little stars, and the kiddo loved it). Cook until tender, drain, and set aside.
Once pasta is cooked and soup is heated through, place a bit of cooked pasta into individual serving bowls and ladle soup on top of pasta. Top with some Parm, stick a yummy whole wheat roll or some saltines in there, and you are set! I used a yummy Parm/Romano blend and was happy with the results.


While I'm still not feeling 100%, I do feel like I'm the up side of this cold. I'm going to try and get a little workout in this morning, maybe have some of this leftover get-better soup for lunch, and have a great day and try to forget that I really don't feel all that great. It's snowing here in my neck of the woods... hoping to keep warm somehow! You do the same!
What's your favorite "I'm sick and just want to feel better" meal? Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by Pacific Natural Foods.