Minestrone Soup

This recipe may be prepared for all low-sodium diets, but those restricted to 1000-, 500-, or 250-mg. low-sodium diets should not eat the carrots and celery used for flavoring and should omit the Parmesan cheese.

• 4 beef marrow bones
• 2 sliced onions
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 3 peeled and diced potatoes
• 2 diced celery stalks
• 2 scraped and diced carrots
• 1/2 cup raw rice
• 2 quarts water
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 3 minced parsley sprigs
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup cooked kidney beans
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Place marrow bones in a heavy pot. Add onions, cabbage, potatoes, celery, carrots, and rice. Cover with water. Add garlic, parsley, basil, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Skim residue off top occasionally. Add cooked kidney beans. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over each serving.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.