Eggplant Chicken Alphabet Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 2 cups eggplants, peeled and cubed
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced
• 1 medium yellow squash, sliced
• 1 cup carrot, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, diced (or use a garlic press)
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons splenda sugar substitute (or sugar, if you're not worried about calories)
• 1 cup whole wheat alphabet pasta (or try the organic vegetable variety)

Recipe

• 1 wash and prepare vegetables as noted above.
• 2 set eggplant aside in a bowl with a generous sprinkling of salt. this will help reduce bitterness. thinner-skinned eggplants may not need to be peeled.
• 3 in large (6 qt) pot over medium heat, saute onions, garlic, and celery until onions are clear.
• 4 add diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, tomato juice, carrots, basil, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and splenda to pot.
• 5 brown chicken in a separate pan, then drain and add to pot.
• 6 rinse eggplant thoroughly and add to pot.
• 7 reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, checking vegetables periodically until close to desired level of doneness.
• 8 add pasta during last 8-10 minutes of cooking.