Tracey,
You posted that recipe before and I considered it, but geez that sounds like it would feed a dozen people! I would have to somehow smaller it down to one can of minestrone, maybe omit the regular tomatoes and just use the can of Rotel. Then only use half a pound of ground beef. I mean Fran and I can split a can of soup with a half a sandwich and I'm stuffed, she could still eat a bowl of ice cream.
On an aside note, I had planned spaghetti and green beans for dinner. Whenever I make my bolognaise sauce, I make a ton and freeze it in 2 cup bags. That's perfect for dinner and maybe a piece of bread and butter with sauce on top the next day. Well Fran wanted to go to Home Depot tonight and pick up some shelving things to house all the stuff she is accumulating for our hopeful rennovation of her father's house. The Home Depot that had the stuff she wanted was in Torrance. That's like driving past probably seven Home Depots in our area. Can't give a distance that anyone would understand, but it was a good 25 minute to half an hour ride with no traffic, and that's saying something in LA!
Well we were leaving Home Depot at 7:53 and she said I could have dinner out tonight since she dragged me out to HD. There was no place in my GPS nearby that sounded good so we decided to head back to LB, and we were going to brave trendy 2nd street on a Saturday night and try a place called Nick's on 2nd that served upscale comfort food. Those of you who have been following my posts know that California Shabu Shabu has been working on opening a restaurant down in the trendy part of 2nd Street. I have been driving by there since their prospective opening in September/October (last year), saying "Open, open, open!" Like the Mervyn's commercial.
Well I told Fran that since we were going down to the shore, we had to at least drive past the CA Shabu Shabu and see if by chance they had opened. They DID! Evidently about two weeks ago! While we were on vacation! Still they did not have their liquor license, but this place is good enough that it didn't matter! We didn't have to drive all the way home from Fountain Valley after a wonderful Shabu Shabu meal (and I am still stuffed!

) BTW Fountain Valley is about as far South on the 405 as Torrance is North on the 405.
So Sharon, hopefully we can work out a dinner here when you visit later this year, they have plenty for your Pesky Vegetarian as well as the carnivores. I ordered the large choice beef and almost thought I would still be hungry until I ate my noodle soup. I have been craving Udon noodles for a few days and could not find them in any of my Western grocery stores. So glad that I had my yummy Udon and glass noodle soup tonight seasoned with my own choice and rations of dips, sauces and spices that the restaurant provides!