Recipe for Minestrone

When the weather gets colder, you may not always feel like eating cold soup. In that case, you can substitute the gazpacho with Signora Licia's minestrone, a hot vegetable soup that tastes great. I lost ten pounds in a month by swimming 40 minutes twice a day and eating minestrone instead of gazpacho on the diet while I stayed at the Hotel Posta Marcucci in Bagno Vignone, in Tuscany. You can vary it by adding other vegetables to your taste such as string beans, turnips, garlic, spinach, but not tomatoes.

6 zucchini, ends cut off, sliced
6 carrots, scraped, sliced
1 small stalk celery, sliced including leaves
1 medium potato, cubed
1 small finocchio (fennel) cubed
1 onion (large or small to your taste)
Cover with water in a kettle or large pan, add 1 teaspoon salt, and cook at a slow boil for one hour. Strain the vegetables and pass through a food mill, then return to pot with water. If too thick add water and salt to taste. When serving add parmesan and/or olive oil if you wish, as well the "crostini" (flavored bread cubes).