Ingredients:
1 kg fresh shelled cannellini beans OR 500 g dried beans, soaked overnight & drained OR 3 – 480 g cans beans, rinsed & drained
1 whole garlic bulb, cut in half horizontally
3 bay leaves
300 mL extra virgin olive oil
8 sticks of celery, chopped
16 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
8 leeks, white part only, OR 3 med. onions, peeled & chopped
4 medium ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and crushed OR 800 mL can crushed tomatoes
40 g chopped fresh garlic (1 average bulb)
8 sprigs of fresh herb, leaves removed; rosemary, sage OR thyme
3 bunches fresh greens (Swiss chard, escarole, or collards), chopped
30 mL balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste