Soup'ilicious: Hunter's Minestrone

It is Friday so it is another SOUP'ILICIOUS night.  This is the best winter soup ever ... a take on the classic minestrone with a few tweaks.  It does have a lot of ingredients, but it is worth it.  Make a huge pot - it freezes well.

300g small pasta shells
2 litres chicken stock, homemade
6 cloves garlic, halved
4 tsp dried sage
1 sprig rosemary
3 sweet Italian sausages or chorizo sausage, diced
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tins whole tomatoes
2 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
4 - 6 shin bones
2 tins white bean

Cook pasta according to pkt instructions
In a large pot combine stock, garlic and herbs and bring to the boil.
Simmer for 15 min and then strain.
Add sausage, carrots, celery, onion, tomato, bay leaf, salt, pepper and shin to the stock.
Cook until meat is tender.
Remove bones, stir in beans and pasta and heat through.
Process half the soup and add back to the pot - this will thicken it.

Enjoy with some whole wheat baguette and a good bottle of wine... just what we need after a hectic week at work!