Flat Tire Paradise

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Seven Virtues Minestrone Soup

There a whole lot of history around the Seven Virtues and this soup, but I am not going to offer any pretense of knowing things Italian, including culture and history. I am not Italian and this isn't my grandmother's recipe. It's my first effort on a traditional classic favorite.1 I did soe research on the subject and then went shopping.

Stock

Pair of pigs feet
Small Onion
Shallot
Several Cloves of Garlic
Oregano
Parsley

Thyme

Marjoram

Black Peppercorns

Salt

Simmer together till the meat is falling off the bones. For me, this was about 2 and 1/2 hours. Chill overnight. Skin and debone. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, heat stock and strain. Reserve the meat and skin, if you want to add that back to the soup. Cut the skin into small pieces .

500G of beans.

I was unable to find Cannellini beans. So I substituted Small white beans.

Soak overnight:

Small White Beans
Black Beans

Chickpeas

Black Eyed Peas

Rinse only (so do that tomorrow).

Fava Beans

Lentils

Fresh Peas (Add with the fresh veggies and pasta)

Drain, rinse and cover the beans with water and cook 45 minutes, I added the lentils and the fava beans after the cooking started at 30 minutes.

In the pan with some olive oil add the root vegetables, garlic, oregano, and parsley.

3 Carrots

1 Onion

1 Small Turnip

1 Potato

1 t. Parsley

1 t. Oregano

Once these are soft add the pork stock back in. When the beans have cooked for forty five minutes add them in to the stock.

Add

3 ounces of Pancetta

3 ounces of Prosciutto

Start to add the fresh veggies,

2 Stalks of Celery

½ Small Cabbage

Black Kale

½ Cup Peas

3 Tomatoes Chopped

Add in some pasta if you’re into that.

The soup is done when the beans are cooked about 45 minutes after the beans are added back to the stock.

Serve with grated parmeson or pecorino.

1. http://memoriediangelina.com/2014/04/20/le-virtu-abruzzese-seven-virtues-minestrone/ provided a lot of the inspiration for this effort.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Watercolor Painting Material List

Pallette -- I use an enamel tray.

Paint -- From left to right.

Ultramarine Blue

Alizarin Crimson

Burnt Sienna -- In the corner

Cadmium Red Medium

Cadmium Red Pale

Yellow Ochre

Cadmium Yellow Medium

Cadmium Yellow Pale

Cerulean or Cobalt Blue

Payne's Grey

Thalo Blue

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

This arrangement keeps the yellows and pale blues fairly clean and provides for a variety of greys and blacks.

Although I have a bucket of brushes, mostly I use two or three. A 1" flar camel and a #8 sable round made by Dan Smith. I rarely use any other brushes. I have a rigger and the small #4 which is nylon. Sometimes when I want to wet a large area, I will use a 3" house painting brush.

Other Items:

Hair Dryer
Razor Blade
Elephant ear or other natural sponge
Pencil
1 gallon bucket of water
Masking fluid and cheap throw away brush.

Paper. I use Arches 140 lb Cold Press or Rough.