Vegetable Chowder/Minestrone alla Milanese

1/2 quart of stock
2 slices of lean pork or a ham bone
2 tomatoes, fresh or canned
2 onions
1 cup of rice
2 tablespoons of dried beans
1 tablespoon of peas

"Put into the stock the slices of pork, cut into small pieces; or, if desired a ham bone may be substituted for the pork. Add the tomatoes, cut into small pieces also, the onions, in small pieces, and the rice. Boil all together until the rice is cooked. Then add the beans and the peas and cook a little longer. The soup is ready when it is thick. If desired, this chowder can be made with fish broth instead of the stock, and with the addition of shrimps which have been taken from their shells. This dish can be served hot or cold."

This recipe was taken from "Simple Italian Cookery" written by Antonia Isola (pen name for Mabel Earl McGinnis). It was published in the United States by Harper and Brothers in 1912. It is believed to be the first American cookbook that contains Italian recipes. For the complete copyright-free cookbook see www.archive.org. For a variety of recipes from this cookbook see Italy Revisited/"XXX Italian Cookbook by Antonia Isola"....Photo: Mary Melfi.

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