Busy Day Soup

Wow...what a busy day... Just from 1 until 6 pm: Pick up Oscar from preschool, take Oscar home to empty nuclear waste that he's produced in his diaper (gotta find time to potty train). Pick up from school, take Henry to physical therapy, take Ceci to ceramics, pick up Johnny from school, take Johnny and Oscar back home. Pick up Henry from therapy, pick up Ceci from ceramics, take Ceci's BFF, Chloe, home from ceramics, take Ceci home to change clothes and be at her violin concert in 4.25 minutes. Curse that Oscar has pooped again and the potty fairies didn't get the memo to change him. Ooh and ahh at violin concert, take Ceci home to change clothes for baton lesson. Sing "Halleluja!" that David is home in time to take Ceci to baton and Ollie to soccer. Start dinner. Realize that I missed Peter's theater parents meeting. Pray for boredom.

This soup was super quick to make and really tasty and different...hope you like it!

White Bean Soup with Lemon and Pesto

3 (15oz) cans of cannellini beans, drained (white kidney beans)

32. oz. carton of veg "chicken" broth (I use Imagine No Chicken Broth and love it!)

1 t. extra virgin olive oil

1/4-1/2 c. veg broth (or more of the no chicken broth)

1/2 med. onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t. dried oregano

juice of 1 lemon (approx. 2-3 T)

1/3 c. homemade or purchased traditional pesto, plus extra for garnish

Heat soup pot to med-high heat with olive oil and 1/4 c. veg broth. Add onions and cook until softened and slightly browned, adding more veg broth (a tablespoon at a time) if pan gets too dry. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer, stirring constantly. Cook until broth has nearly evaporated. Add the no chicken broth and 1 can of the beans. Using an immersion blender, blend the broth mixture to a creamy consistency or transfer to regular blender and puree, carefully lifting lid so as not to get burned from the steam. Ok, just get an immersion blender...much easier. (I loved my Braun for years, but now I am IN LOVE with my Bamix brand professional immersion blender). Add remaining beans, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, lemon juice and 1/3 c. of the pesto. Simmer for 10-15 minutes and serve, spooning 1 t. of pesto on top for garnish. Serves 4 or 2 if Dad's had a bad day and mom ran all that carpooling listed above.