Hearty Italian Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 lb. cooked ham
2 medium size celery stalks
2 medium size carrots
1 medium size onion
1 medium size zucchini
2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. basil leaves
pepper
1 (16 oz.) can tomatoes
2 large cans chicken broth
Romano cheese
small pasta

Preparation

Cut ham into small pieces; dice celery, carrots, onion and zucchini.
Mash beans with fork until smooth.
In medium saucepot, heat oil.
Cook ham, celery, onion, carrots, zucchini, basil and pepper until vegetables are tender.
Stir in tomatoes, chicken broth, beans and 1 can water over high heat until boiling.
Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 2 hours.
Add pasta.
Serve with Romano grated cheese.