School Eve.

Twas the night before school and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... maybe because Hannah is at Office Max with Andy, Elie is on her way home from soccer and Katy is outside, soaking in the last air that summer is going to give her. The dreadful tomorrow awaits in the dusk. School.

It's not fair, the kids in Slovenia don't start school until September 1! Well, I guess we're over achievers... I might add, we didn't start school before Labor Day back in my day. Of course those were the days when we walked to school without parental guidance. And played in the woods without adult supervision. Really did everything independently of parents (so we thought) until we heard our name being screamed out when dinner was ready. Long are the days....of freedom.

Tonight I decided to kick off the week Slovenian style with an old fashioned Minestrone. Andy came into the kitchen and said it smelled like Slovenia, basically different from normal American cooking. He must not have smelled the hot dog cooking in the microwave for kid #3... the ingredients are very healthy. Anything with cabbage in it makes it healthy, right? I may even shed a pound overnight. The soup is still simmering, awaiting the household to reappear. I thought I would use this window to capture the blog. Will let you know how it tastes tomorrow.


Primorska-Style Minestrone
Ingredients: 
2 l (8 cups) water or stock (i used chicken broth, low sodium)
1 kg (2 1/5 lb) diced vegetables – cauliflower, celery root, carrots, cabbage, leek, kohlrabi, etc.
50 g (1 3/4 oz) smoked bacon (I used 4 strips)
2 tbsp oil
1 finely chopped onion
4 tbsp rice (I used 1/2 cup Orzo, seemed more fitting)
2 tbsp tomato purée or 5 fresh tomatoes (I thought I had tomatoes, used tomato sauce)
2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Directions:
Sauté chopped bacon and onion, then add vegetables, and fry for another ten minutes. Add water or stock, and let it simmer. When the vegetables are almost done, add rice (or Orzo which takes 9 minutes to cook. I let simmer for another 30 minutes), tomato purée, and salt. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. If you are using fresh tomatoes, sauté them at the beginning with other vegetables.

Additions: I added minced garlic. Salt and pepper. A dash of paprika. Onion powder.

Happy School Day to all! Happy is.