1/3 cup olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup diced celery

1/2 cup great northern beans, soaked

1 bay leaf

Sprig of thyme

4 cups beef stock

2 cups Italian canned tomatoes and their juice

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups diced potatoes

2 cups zucchini, diced

2 cups shredded savoy cabbage

1 cup small pasta shells

In a large pot heat olive oil. Add onions and cook until golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Then add celery and carrots and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add beans, bay leaf, thyme and toss for 1 minute. Then add the plum tomatoes and their juice, and salt and pepper to taste.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add potatoes, zucchini, savoy cabbage and cook for 20 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender. Finally, add your pasta and cook, covered for about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls and serve with the pesto and grated parmesean.

*To make this Vegetarian, substitute Vegetable Broth for Beef Broth.

10  Servings