Runn Tum Tuber Surprise

Here's where this gets fun: investigative WoW cooking. This Runn Tum Tuber Surprise was a special request from my friend and fellow game crafter Angel Mel.  The recipe has only one ingredient, Runn Tum Tubers.  I thought, is that a potato?

So I looked up the item and it looks like...  A parsnip? I think it's a parsnip. Yup.  Definitely parsnipish.  AND then I thought, what's so surprising about a parsnip?  I proceeded to look that up too, and I found out that the completed Tuber Surprise looks like soup.  That's a boring surprise if you ask me...

My parsnips... about to meet their doom.

So what kind of soup-ish thing has a bunch of veggies and looks sort of like that?  Minestrone!  A minestrone is the most versatile and delicious kind of soup to make.  You can customize what vegetables you want, based on what you like.  You just need to pick some of each of the following categories.

1. Slow veggies: beets, parsnips, potatoes, turnips
2. Medium veggies: green beans, turnip greens, mustard greens, green savoy cabbage, kale, chard, collards
3. Fast veggies: broccoli, zucchini, tomatoes, spinach, basil, parsley, mushrooms, peas, bell pepper, squash
4. Small pasta: ditalini, anellini rings, tubettini, orzo

What a lot of chopping!

Basically, a minestrone is just a vegetable soup.  I like to add Italian sausage to make it a little heartier, but you can omit it if you'd like.  You add ingredients in order of how long they take to cook.  Here's the basic formula:  First, make your aromatic base out of spices, carrots, celery, and onions.  Add stock and "slow" veggies, boil 10 minutes.  Add "medium" veggies, boil 10 minutes.  Add pasta, beans, and "fast" veggies, boil 10 minutes.  Yes, it is that easy...  The hardest part is picking out which vegetables you want!  Below is the recipe for my favorite combination.

Runn Tum Tuber Surprise

     1 16 oz. package Italian sausage
     2 Tbsp. olive oil
     1 onion, chopped
     2 carrots, diced
     1 celery stalk, diced
     2 cloves garlic, minced
     1/2 tsp. each of dried thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes, oregano, and sage
     2 bay leaves
     5 cups vegetable or chicken stock
     2 parsnips, peeled and chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
     1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
     1/2 cup orzo pasta
     2 cups fresh or frozen chopped spinach
     1 zucchini, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
     1 large tomato, diced
     Salt and pepper

Prepare vegetables. In a large soup pot, brown sausage over medium heat. Remove sausage, then add olive oil to your pan. Add onion, carrots, celery, spices, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes. Add stock, parsnips, and any other "slow" vegetables. Bring to a low boil, and cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. If you're using "medium" vegetables and sausage, add them. Boil for another 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the cannellini, orzo, spinach, zucchini, tomato, and any other "fast" veggies. Boil for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove your bay leaves. Serve with bread sticks, and garnish with Parmesan and your favorite fresh herbs. Serves 6.

Please note that the type and age of a stove and the quality of a pan can change the way your food cooks, and subsequently increase or decrease your cooking times. If your minestrone starts to look like a stew, add more stock or water. If your veggies are not cooked enough, just cook it longer!