Soup with a Friend

Heidi Whitlock works for the city now but she'll always be a part of our IGA family. "You can check out but you can never leave". She was hired at the same time as Patti and worked here all through her engagement, wedding, having both daughters and earning her degree. We, to this day, refer to her oldest, Sydney now 14, as the store baby. Heidi was the bookkeeper here and Syd had a little playpen in the back office, such a quiet baby the only disturbance was all of us going back to SEE THE BABY! Precious times. For awhile a few of us had a recipe exchange, each week a participant would bring in a dish for everyone to try. Man, so much good food! SuPeR fun trying new recipes especially since there isn't much I don't eat :) Even after others dropped off Heidi and I exchanged recipes. 

  

I can't even remember if Tuscan Ravioli Soup started with Heidi or me but I know every single time I wanted to make it I couldn't find where I'd put the recipe. Thank goodness Heidi is far more organized than me! I looked it up in an old text from her today when I realized if I put it in my blog I'll be able to use the search feature whenever I need it! *gratuitous plug for blog's search feature. This soup is so hearty and simple you're gonna love it too. I make a couple of tweaks to the recipe, as always. I don't add rosemary only because Rick prefers basil and in place of the broccoli rabe, spinach or chard or whatever green leafy thing I have on hand.

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large leek, thinly sliced white and light green only

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups chicken or veg broth

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1 9oz package refrigerated ravioli or cheese tortellini

6 oz fresh spinach or ...

1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes

1 tbsp chopped basil

1/4 cup shredded parmesan

Heat oil in soup pot on medium heat. Add leek and garlic, cook 5 minutes. Add broth and red pepper, bring to boil. Stir in ravioli or tortellini, tomatoes and greens. Reduce heat and simmer till pasta is tender. Remove from heat stir in basil. Serve with sprinkles of cheese on top.

Thank you Heidi for saving this oldie but goodie (both me and the recipe). Tuscan Ravioli Soup is so deliciously Hometown Hearty and Healthy! 

The handsome man in the back office snuck a SuPeR sweet Valentine into the paper for me. No one is more blessed than me~