BUSH'S® Red, White and Bean Minestrone

Ingredients

• 2 cups baby spinach 
• 16 ounce canned tomatoes canned chopped
• 15.5 ounce bush's® cannellini beans with liquid canned
• 1 cup carrots chopped
• 1 cup celery chopped
• 5 cups chicken stock see 
• 1.5 cups bowtie pasta cooked
• 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin 
• 2 tablespoons garlic minced
• 0.3 cup turkey sausage italian
• 16 ounce bush's® kidney beans red drained canned
• 1 cup onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon oregano dried
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese fresh grated
• 2 tablespoons pre-packaged pesto 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 
• 2 cups zucchini cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• slow cooker

Directions

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium sauté pan.
2. Add sausage; brown well.
3. Add tomato paste, cook 5 minutes until brown.
4. Add onions, celery, garlic, carrots and oregano. Cook until garlic is aromatic, approximately 5 minutes.
5. Pour into a 4-quart slow cooker.
6. Add tomatoes and chicken stock.
7. Cook on low setting for 6 to 7 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
8. Stir in beans, zucchini, spinach and cooked pasta. Cook on high setting for 8 minutes or until beans and pasta are warmed through and spinach has wilted.
9. Pour the soup into a bowl. Top with a little pesto and fresh grated parmesan cheese.