Food n Flix-Moonstruck Minestrone

Our Food n Flix Feature this month was Moonstruck starring Cher and Nicholas Cage.  This film is from 1987.  My life was pretty busy in 1987 and I seldom went to the movies or watched television as I was working afternoons.  I had never seen this movie and I don't remember hearing much about it, however when I was looking into it for this project I learned that both Cher and Olympia Dukakis won Academy Awards for their roles in this movie.

I guess it must have been a pretty lame movie year.  Not that I didn't enjoy the movie, I did.  I laughed out loud several times but I did not see any award winning moments of any kind in this movie.  What I did see was lots of food....mostly Italian...but not all Italian....and covering every meal from breakfast to dessert.

I am probably the only person in the world who had not seen this movie before now.  It is a love story but not in the usual sense of the word.  I guess it would be considered a dark comedy which is not my usual genre of choice.  Cher plays a woman who feels her biological clock ticking away so settles for a guy who she likes but whom she does not love.  Olympia plays her mother who loves her husband of many years but who knows that he is now having an affair.  Nicholas Cage is the estranged brother of Cher's fiancee.  I will not go into any more of the movie just in case I am wrong about being the only person who hasn't seen this and you are the only other person in the world who has not seen it. It is a story of families and relationships, fears and dreams.  

I thought about making Cannoli, I love Cannoli but for last month's movie I made a dessert.  I thought about making steak and pasta but really wanted to make something a little more exciting. There were a couple of breakfasts I could choose from including Toads in a Hole and that almost won but then Olympia went out for a solitary dinner while her husband was out with his tramp  lady friend, and she ordered Minestrone....Voila!!  Moonstruck Minestrone was conceived.

Food n Flix

This month's Food n Flix is hosted by Debra of Eliot's Eats.  You have plenty of time to check out those sites and join us in this month's fun.

I decided to make the Moonstruck Minestrone tonight because it is also Meatless Monday and Minestrone is  hearty enough that you can pair it with a salad and it makes a great meal.  I would normally add some soft breadsticks  but I am trying to take better care of myself and cutting down on the starches is one of the ways I am doing that.

Let's make some Minestrone!!

Moonstruck Minestrone with Pesto

2 T. Olive Oil
1 med. onion, cut into chunks
1 stalk celery cut into chunks
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 small zucchini, cut into large dice
1 small summer squash, cut into large dice
1 c. green beans, trimmed and cut into 2" pieces
6 c. Vegetable Broth
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 T. parsley, minced
1 t oregano
1/2 t. basil
1/2 t. thyme
salt and pepper to taste
5 oz. baby spinach leaves
1 c. small pasta (I used small shells but any small cut pasta will work)
Parmesan Cheese
Pesto

Place onion, celery, garlic and carrots into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until minced.  Heat olive oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven over med heat.  Add minced vegetables, zucchini, squash and green beans and cook for a few minutes until vegetables begin to soften a bit.

Add broth, kidney beans, cannelini beans,tomatoes with their juices and spices.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Add spinach leaves and pasta and simmer for an additional 20 minutes.  You can add additional broth or water if soup is too thick.

Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan Cheese and a dollop of Pesto.  Print Recipe

I am Moonstruck by this delicious soup!!

Stop by Wednesday Whatsits.....I am sharing this recipe and you will find tons of great recipes, DIY projects and ideas and other fun stuff.