My wide open day was fun!! Except for all the time I spent with my face in the drain.
We decided NOT to get Drain-O after reading about how harsh the chemicals are and a quick visit to Consumer Reports (where my dad has a subscription!) that said to use it only as a very last resort. Instead we went with the Zip-It and some enzymes that seem to be a more gentle way to unclog (bacteria "eat" the clog scum) recommend by Consumers. Also, the plunger seems to have fixed the problem by 75%. But putting the plunger in the bathtub was GROSS.
OK, on to food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We went grocery shopping today – it’s a holiday week for sure!! Whole Foods was packed. So much so that we missed our walking date with Faith + Tate 
[Sorry guys.] We got stuck in the aisles and checking out took 15 minutes.
But we came home with lots of delicious foods!
And I finally remembered to blog about these cool Bite bags I was sent. Super cute and very handy. I always feel hypocritical getting plastic bags for my produce when I feel so strongly against plastic bags at the checkout line. These solve the problem the whole way (except that I only have 2 and need more!)
Stylin’ too!
I had BIG plans for a BIG pot of soup tonight. I wanted a huge pile of veggies in tomato broth.
Cue Minestrone, which I have never made before!
I did a bit of research first. The Pioneer Woman roasts her veggies first, so I took her advice with that. I also thought to add olives to make it even more Mediterranean. And instead of stirring in greens, we served the soup over greens to wilt them without getting lost. Worthy of a recipe page!
The whole recipe is on this page ==> Magnificent Minestrone
Proclaimed "the best vegetable soup ever"
Served with half a big whole wheat tortilla, toasted in the oven and sprinkled with parm!
Let it be noted that I regretted my tortilla choice when I saw Matt’s triple butter sandwich! Snagged a bite of that landmark for myself.
Somebody wanted to continue reading HP7 through dinner, so we had a casual meal in the TV room [I slurped my soup with House Hunters x3!!]
Listening to the Grooveshark "Popular" station and rockin’ out at my desk. I’m such a nerd when it comes to "cool" music. I don’t know any of the songs’ names or artists, but I recognize them all!
Nite!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
Sounds like a nice and chill day. I love having relaxing time like that. And sometimes dinner should just be in the TV room with books/music/movie/etc. 😀
Heather says
That looks like an amazing minestrone soup – I would never have thought to roast the vegetables. Roasted vegetables are so much better though!
Looks like a great way to enjoy the evening – I agree – sometimes dinner should be in front of the tv.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
I have to say that soup does look delicious!! I love how thick it looks!
Claire (Low Impact Fashionista) says
Omg that soup looks so chunky and amazing! I might have to make it too!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
I always feel guilty about the plastic produce bags, too, and try to avoid using them. I need to pick up reusable bags like yours.
[email protected] says
Minestrone is definitely one of my faves… so hearty and filling!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That does look loike the best minestrone soup I have ever seen!!!!
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
That soup looks really really good. It’s always fun to try new soups/stews. I like stews best… a little thicker.
Dorry says
I love to pour soups, lentils, beans, etc on top of spinach for that wilt effect, too! Really helps to bulk up a meal and get the extra benefits from the spinach. We ate dinner in the living room as well – football & AMA’s. 🙂
Stephanie says
Veggie soup is such a great way to use up extras in the fridge and have a great healthy meal!! Love the idea of roasting the veggies first, I bet that tasted amazing.
Have you made ratatouille before? It’s another one of my favorite ways to use up a ton of veggies and get a dish with amazing flavor! http://cookinfanatic.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/nostalgic/
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I am such a nerd when it comes to music too. Kenny G and Barry Manilow are my friends.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Aw, what a great day! Dinner looks delicious! Oh and no joke, the stores are crazy right now! Have a great night Kath!
Donna says
From what I’ve seen, you and Emily are good friends and she always roasts vegetables for soups and posts wonderful recipes for them.
Lesley Lifting Life says
That soup looks like a winner to me! 🙂
stacey-healthylife says
I like all the big hearty chunks of veggies. I wanna make this soup soon.
Alaina says
I love House Hunters! 🙂
And my mom made a minestrone-style soup with gnocchi and chicken. It was delicious! Your soup looks so good too!
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) says
I was thinking about how great it would be if someone invented reusable produce bags while I was shopping today. I will definitely need to check those out!
Camille says
Those bags are so cool!
I hate having to use the plastic ones. I may have to invest in those!
Faith @ lovelyascharged says
Wow, what a delicious looking soup! I love that you served it over greens because I find that when I put spinach in it when I cook a minnestrone, they get kind of slimy :/ I always serve my lentil soup over spinach too!
Cookteen says
that minestrone look unreal! I’m getting hungry just looking at it!
with love and cupcakes,
Chelsey (cookteen)
cookteen.com
Krystina says
Whole Foods was RIDICULOUS! It was like going through a maze just to walk around.
Sana says
I always reuse the bags as trash bags for the plastic recycle 🙂
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
O, a tortilla sprinkled with finely shredded parmesan is a fantastic idea. Your virgin attempt at minestrone turned out pretty darn well it looks like! Good going Kath~
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
oh those bite bags are a wonderful idea!!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Is HP7 Harry Potter? I never got into them but I’ve heard they get more and more intense down the line. Must be a good one for him to want to read over dinner!
Julie @ Honey B. says
Ooh I love this! That looks delicious, I love the idea of pouring the soup on top of the greens. They always wilt to quickly and this way you get a fresh bunch of greens with each new bowlful – brilliant!!!!
Hannah says
Ooh, I’m going to definitely roast vegetables next time I make soup 🙂 And well done you on going the safer non-Drain-O approach!
Kristen @ Kristen, Sweetly says
Ahahahaha, love the candid of Matt pouring over the book! I forced my way through it when it came out, and was not at all interested. I felt like I had to see how everything ended up. But I LOVED the movie on Thursday night. So entertaining.
Also, I am jealous of your lovely minestrone. I haven’t done it homemade yet, either. Can’t wait.
Matt says
WHAT!?!??!!? This is the fourth, maybe fifth time I’ve read this one… it’s the best.
Tara says
Haha, I love that Matt had to read through dinner. I’m the same way when I’m really into a book.
BTW, HP7 (the movie) is awesome. The best HP movie thus far. Even if you haven’t read the books, you’ll love it. Although… my friend who hasn’t read the books did ask me tons of questions during the movie – so maybe it’s a bit confusing for those who don’t already know the story. Hopefully Matt is cool with you asking for clarifications mid-movie!
Kath says
I’ve read all of the books!! 🙂
hippierunner says
Those bags look awesome! I always feel guilty using plastic even when I re-use them. I think my BF and I are known as the town weirdos because we usually go bag-less and just have our veggies go from hand to counter to totebag when possible!
Amy K. @ onehealthypeanut says
MMMM I am making that TOMORROW! It looks amazing!!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I need to get some of those reusable produce bags!
[email protected] says
I WILL be making that soup when I get back from Thanksgiving…looks amazing
Namaste Gurl says
I’d love to know where you get your soup and salad bowls? Looking for ones similar. Your minestrone looks GREAT, by the way– noted that on your recipe page 🙂
Kath says
They are Pottery Barn!
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
I loved your transition from the gross to the tasty. I, myself, can’t seem to put down my copy of “The Pillars of the Earth”. I’m losing sleep over it because I keep staying up late and getting up early just to read some more.
Kath says
I need to read that..
Kiran says
I love hearty soups and minestrone is so delicious!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love minestrone soup! I made a version 2 weeks ago with leftover brussels sprouts. It was YUMMY!
Our bathroom drains clog all the time with hair. We recently bought this little snake thing for drains at Bed, Bath, & Beyond for $7 or 8 bucks and it works perfectly!! No electricity or batteries required; it’s basically like a velvet pipe cleaner. You should see the HUGE clumps of hair it brings up. OMG, it was one of the best things we ever bought for home maintenance, lol.
Kath says
Sounds like the Zip-it I got
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
I love minestrone soup but have never made it at home.. maybe I’ll try the recipe you posted 🙂
Ash @ Good Taste. Healthy Me says
I’ve used Drain-o a couple times and I really disliked using it. Were you able to buy the Zip-It right in the store?
Ash @ Good Taste. Healthy Me says
Sorry I meant like a Home Depot, not a specialty store…haha. I realize you obviously bought it at a store lol
Kath says
Yeah, right at Lowes
Alissa @ Not Just Apples says
Bite bags are a great idea! They need to start getting popular in the uk, as there’s so much plastic involved in buying fruit and veggies…
Cara Craves... says
I love the veggie bag idea.
To be honest I have never thought of that before,
so I am glad that you mentioned it.
Lauren says
Minestrone Soup looks so inviting this time of year.
Glad you had a nice day Kath!
Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun says
Never made Minnestrone before either, but I do have 3 or 4 recipes for it in my recipe folder(s). I may have to check out the Pioneer Woman’s too because it looks delicious! I love hearty soups! 😀
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I always feel bad for using plastic bags for my produce too! I try to go without as much as possible, but some things just need to be bagged! Those bite bags are a great idea.
Elizabeth says
Hey, i was wondering what enzymes you used and where you got them? My drains slow regularly because they are narrow pipes but drain-o is not only harsh chemicals but it can also eat at your pipes too.
Kath says
These guys from Lowes: http://www.lowes.com/pd_134003-331-K-67+BACT.+DRAIN+AND_0__?productId=3173405&Ntt=roebic&pl=1¤tURL=/pl__0__s%3FNtt%3Droebic
Emily says
Love the idea of a roasted vegetable soup! I have been wanting to try that but have been too lazy to roast and make soup, this recipe makes it look worth for sure! And I love that Mat”s reading HP7, I started to re-read it too!
Lee @ College Foodie Finds says
Great idea with the Pita chips. I am going to have to try that one. Have you ever made a pita pizza?! Kind of the same idea, but with with pizza toppings (sauce, veggies, cheese, etc)!!
Kath says
Not recently!
[email protected] says
This soup looks amazing! Too bad my husband doesn’t like beans!! Do you think it would be just as good without?
Kath says
It would be fine without them 🙂
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
Those bags are great. I agree that I hate using the plastic produce bags. I’m going to have to look into those!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Ooh I love the veggie roasting idea for the soup! Minestrone is one of my favourites to make so I think I’ll have to try that next time.
hungryforbalance.wordpress.com says
That’s funny what you said about music. I’m the same way- I recognize songs but couldn’t tell you who the artist is. I’m so bad that I don’t even know who’s on my ipod! I’m always downloading random stuff and never pay attention to the singer or band. Oh, well all that matters is that it sounds good, right 😉
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
haha that pic of your husband reading HP so intently is hilarious. He looks all sophisticated but when you know it’s just HP it brings a whole other level of funny.
Linds says
Hey Kath! I love the idea of a bite bags, but I work in a grocery store and when cashiers weigh produce at check out, they can add to the price a little. It may only be a penny or so, but those add up, especially around the holidays! I like to use a similar thing, but only on items that I have to get a lot of (like mini potatoes, brussels sprouts, etc.) It may or may not matter to you, just FYI. I love your commitment to staying green! =]
Kath says
I definitely though of this!! I’m not sure what the solution is. Not bagging things seems so germy!
Amber K says
I have some produce bags too, but I almost always forget them! Plus I can’t figure out where to transfer all of my veggies before I chop them up. I don’t want to keep them in the bags, because, like you, I need more!
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks says
I really like the idea of those Bite bags…I’ll have to check them out!
BB says
Love those bite bags! where can I get some with the cute patterns? The styles available on their site are all pretty plain and they aren’t sold in my area….
Open sky perhaps?
Tracey says
It seemed like I watched house hunters all day yesterday. I love that show. I usually have HGTV on all day (background noise) on Sundays:)
The Bite Bags are a great idea.
Melissa @ I Never Imagined says
Hmm. I’ve never really thought about the produce plastic bag thing before. I always bring my reusable bag for the checkout! I mean, I always hate how big the plastic bags are, especially when I only have a few items in each one. Now I want to find a good (less expensive, shhh) solution!
Claire says
To avoid putting the gross toilet plunger in the sink or tub, buy a second one and label each on the handle with marker.