Minestrone Alla Milanese

Trim green beans; cut into 1-inch pieces. Trim zucchini; cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Peel potato; cut into 3/4 inch-cubes. Heat oil and butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 6 minutes until onions are soft, but not brown. Stir in carrots and potato, cook for 5 minutes. Add celery and green beans; cook for 5 more minutes. Then add zucchini; cook for 3 minutes, and finally add cabbage and garlic and stir for 1 minute.

Add broth, water and reserved tomato juice to pot. Add coarsely chopped tomatoes to pot. Stir in salt, basil, rosemary, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Add cannellini beans. Uncover pot and cook over medium-low heat 30 minutes until soup thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top before serving if desired.