Cooking Day!

Snowing outside, so I figured today would be a great day for hubby and I to have a cooking fest.

Minestrone di verdura (vegetable) soup
Osso Buco
Fresh French bread (from the bakery)

Never made the Osso Buco before, wish me luck.

One question - the soup needs white beans, I got them this morning, but they were supposed to soak overnight. I've been soaking in hot water for 2 hours, and nuking for 30-40 seconds every 10-15 minutes. Crunchy beans will ruin the soup, I hope I can soften them up. If not, they're not going in. Any other ideas on how to get the beans in shape?

Meanwhile, we are taking the Julia Child approach to cooking. Started with a Bloody Mary, may get into the cooking wine (a cheap but decent Pinot Griglio) soon. Must make sure to reserve 1 1/2 cups for the Osso Buco, can't drink it all.

sounds good. I live about 50 miles East from Indy. I just finished making my "famous" flu buster chicken soup. It tastes really good on a snowy, winter Indiana day. :hi:

if you don't do overnight.
Like pour into boiling water and then let sit off heat for a couple of hours.

Or, you can just simmer them and keep topping up the water as they absorb.
They should be tender in time to add to soup.