Minestrone with Whole Wheat Elbows and Bacon

Hodgson Mill

12 slices thick cut bacon

1 cup onion chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cans (14.5 oz) chicken broth + 3 cans water

1 cup white wine (or broth)

1 pkg (16 oz) whole wheat elbows

4 cups diced zucchini

1-1/2 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

3 Tbsp. tomato paste

½ cup fresh basil, chopped

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Parmesan cheese, to serve

Cook bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp. 

Bacon was on sale! Yay sale.

Remove cooked bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain; crumble when cooled. Meanwhile, reserve 3 Tbsp. of bacon drippings in pot (if short, add olive oil until there is 3 Tbsp. total fat). Add onion and garlic to pot and saute for 4 minutes or until tender. Add broth, water and wine, and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to a simmer, add zucchini, corn, tomatoes, beans and tomato paste, and continue cooking for about 5 more minutes or until vegetables are tender and the soup is heated through. 

Ok here's where I really messed this up: It turns out you need a GIANT pot to make this, like a big stock pot. I did not use such a pot, and because of that I had to leave out half of the zucchini and all of the corn. I was incredibly mad at myself. 

Remove from heat and stir in chopped basil and lemon juice. 

Hard to stir such a full pot, but the smell made it worth it.

Ladle the soup into bowls and top each with a sprinkle of Parmesan and crumbled bacon.

Look at that beautiful garnish! (By the way, I substituted gluten-free twisty pasta for whole-wheat elbows.)

My Rating: 5/5 "It's a real testament to the awesomeness of this recipe that I messed it up as badly as I did and it was still INCREDIBLY delicious. Loved the nuanced, detailed flavor of the broth. The bacon adds a nice smoky undertone. The Parmesan garnish is crucial, by the way, to achieve the full depth of flavor this can have. Try it! (Just make sure you own a giant stock pot first.)"