MINESTRA SCEMA AL EDUARDO

(BETTER KNOWN AS ROBY'S "STUPID SOUP")

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 THIS RECIPE WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY DEAR FRIEND FROM FLORENCE,

 ROBERTO ANICHINI.

ROBY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE 

"WHEN THE CUPBOARD IS BARE" RECIPES.

ROBY MADE ME "STUPID SOUP" WHEN HE VISITED ME IN CALIFORNIA LAST YEAR.

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INEXPENSIVE AND LITERALLY IS DONE IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES.

SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS

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SERVES 4

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3 SMALL TO MEDIUM WHITE POTATOES

3/4 CUP COARSELY CHOPPED CELERY

3/4 CUP COARSELY CHOPPED ONION

1/4 CUP EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

1 CUP UNCOOKED "DITILINI" PASTA (TINY)

1 SMALL RIPE TOMATO

(YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE WITH 3 HEAPING TBS. PLAIN TOMATO SAUCE)

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PEEL POTATOES AND CHOP INTO SMALL CUBES\

IN A LARGE POT, SAUTE ONION AND CELERY IN OLIVE OIL UNTIL ONION IS TRANSLUCENT.  

ADD POTATOES AND SAUTE AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES

COVER INGREDIENTS WITH 6" WATER

ADD TOMATOES/OR SAUCE

ADD PASTA AND BRING INGREDIENTS TO A STEADY SIMMER

COOK UNTIL PASTA IS TENDER, ABOUT 15 MINUTES

SALT TO TASTE

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OPTIONS

IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME BACON, MINCE IT FINALLY AND ADD IT TO THE MIXTURE AT THE SAME TIME YOU ADD THE TOMATO

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SAVE BITS AND PIECES OF  ASSORTED PASTAS IN A ZIP LOCK BAG AND THEN YOU CAN USE THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE "DITILINI" IN YOUR CUPBOARD.

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IF YOU HAVE ANY BROTH AROUND YOU CAN USE I/2 BROTH AND 1/2 WATER TO COVER THE VEGETABLES