Simple Chicken Minestrone

So, it was about 4 degrees out yesterday! BRRRR!!!! I decided if ever there was a "soup" night, it was now! My hubby and I agreed that the same ol' chicken tortilla soup, chicken noodle, chili...those wouldn't cut it. I knew something brothy and HEARTY was what we needed, so I went to work on this one, and it was comfort in a bowl!! I recommend serving this with a nice, crusty bread to soak up all the herby broth at the end. It also would be great with spicy italian sausage in substitution for the chicken. Tweak it to your liking and enjoy!

extra virgin olive oil

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

seasoned salt

fresh cracked black pepper

4 tsp. dried basil, (1/2 for chicken, 1/2 for soup)

2 tsp. dried thyme (1/2 for chicken, 1/2 for soup)

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 large onion

2 med. carrots

2 stalks celery

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 med. red bell pepper, or 1/2 large

1 med. green bell pepper, or 1/2 large

1 bay leaf

32 oz. chicken stock

(1) 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
(1) 15 oz. can cannelini beans

1 1/2 cups (dried) ditilini pasta

Heat 3 tblsp. olive oil over med. hi heat in large skillet. Season chicken with seasoned salt, pepper, garlic, basil, and thyme. Sear on both sides, then add about a cup of water and turn heat down to med. Meanwhile, dice onions, celery, peppers, carrots to about the same size. Add all veggies and garlic to about 3 tblsp. olive oil over med. heat in large stock pot. Season with salt and pepper, and cook veggies until they begin getting tender. Add bay leaf, basil, and thyme to pot. ( Be sure if water in chicken skillet evaporates, you keep adding water as needed) When veggies are cooked through, add all chicken stock to the pot, along with the can of crushed tomatoes. Let soup simmer while cooking pasta in separate pot (so all liquid from soup is not absorbed) until just shy of aldente. Drain and rinse beans and add to soup. Take chicken out and chop into small, bitesized pieces. Add to soup. Add a few ladels of pasta water to soup until desired consistency is reached. Add cooked pasta to soup, along with fresh parsley. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan on top of soup, and crusty bread to sop! Enjoy :)