Hearty Minestrone Soup

Packed with good-for-us beans and vegetables, this is the most Italian of all soups. Did you know the word minestrone actually means "soup" in Italian?

Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 3 (14.5-ounce) cans ready-to-use beef broth
• 1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, undrained
• 1 (20-ounce) can cannellini beans, undrained
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

Instructions

1. In a large soup pot, combine all ingredients except macaroni. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then stir in macaroni.
    
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes, or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally.

Serving Tip

Why not top each bowl with a little grated Parmesan cheese? It'll give your minestrone a richer taste, spoonful after spoonful.