Hearty vegetable soup................................... Kathy Schlaich

Hearty vegetable soup

Courtesy of GreenField Manor Executive Chef Mike Arena

BY KATHY SCHLAICH

Executive Chef Mike Arena has been serving meals to the 120 residents at GreenField Manor for the past five years. Arena learned culinary skills on the job; he’s cooked for various restaurants and another local senior living facility, as well as out-of-state establishments.

One of his favorite creations is a hearty, healthy vegetable soup that he says, “goes well with just about anything.” This soup is popular among residents and can be served as a stand-alone meal with a loaf of crusty bread and salad, or as an accompaniment to a larger meal.

Hearty vegetable soup

Courtesy of Mike Arena, executive chef at GreenField Manor

Ingredients:

1 white onion, diced ½ stalk celery, diced 4-5 carrots, diced 1 red pepper, diced 1 green pepper, diced 1 zucchini, seeded and diced 1 yellow squash, seeded and diced 3 minced garlic cloves 1 bag chopped frozen spinach 1 quart vegetable stock 3 cups V8 or tomato juice 1 small can tomato paste 1 can diced tomatoes ¼ cup acini di pepe pasta 1 teaspoon basil ½ teaspoon oregano ¼ teaspoon thyme 2 bay leaves Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Sauté the vegetables until tender. Add garlic and sauté for thirty seconds to one minute.

Add the stock, tomato juice, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Let simmer for thirty minutes. Add pasta and cook until tender.

FY

Kathy Schlaich is a contributor to Forever Young and has reported for publications across the country.