Roughly chop the onion, carrots, celery and garlic cloves (you don’t need to be too precise)
Pour the vegetable broth in a large pot and add the chopped vegetables and bay leaf. Season well with salt and black pepper, then place the lid on and simmer for approximately 20 minutes over medium-high heat
With a fork, check that the vegetables are cooked (they should be soft and tender). Then discard the bay leaf and strain out the vegetables through a slotted spoon or colander
Add the cooked vegetables to a blender with ½ cup of water and blend until smooth
Pour the blended vegetables back to the pot with the vegetable broth and stir through. Taste for seasoning
Bring soup back to a boil, then add the pastina pasta. Ensure to stir the pastina every minute or so, to ensure it doesn't stick to the bottom (pastina usually takes about 5-6 minutes to cook)Serve in bowls - optional garnish with chopped parsley, grated parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil and enjoy your soothing Pastina Soup!