Diet Soup - Or Not - It's Great Anytime

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 1 celery heart, chopped
• 2 medium summer squash, chopped
• 1 small zucchini, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 64 ounces low sodium chicken broth
• 1 (11 1/2 ounce) can low-sodium v-8 vegetable juice
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can low-sodium diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can small beans, rinsed
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic (to taste)
• 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes (optional)
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can low-sodium french style green beans
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can low-sodium wax beans
• 1 (8 1/2 ounce) can low-sodium peas
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional)

Recipe

• 1 saute chopped vegetables (except squash & zucchini) in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• 2 add chicken broth, v-8 juice (can substitute 8 oz. tomato sauce, if necessary), diced tomatoes, beans, crushed garlic, italian seasoning, bay leaves, black pepper, and (if using) chicken bouillon cubes. bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• 3 add diced squash and zucchini and continue simmering for 15 minutes.
• 4 add french-style green beans, wax beans, and peas and simmer for 5 minutes.
• 5 remove from heat, and if including baby spinach, stir it into the soup while the soup is hot so it will wilt into the soup before serving or storing.
• 6 variations for individual bowls:.
• 7 garnish with 1 teaspoon of parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
• 8 pasta fagioli variation - add 2 tablespoons of cooked elbow or other small pasta and 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese before re-heating to simulate pasta fagioli for a main course serving.
• 9 southwest variation - add 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1 tablespoon leftover canned corn, and a dash of cayenne or 1 teaspoon of picante sauce before reheating.
• 10 indian curry variation - add 1/2 teaspoon curry powder and 1 tablespoon plain low-fat yogurt before reheating.
• 11 elevate any version to a main course serving by adding a little leftover cooked chicken, lamb, or ham before reheating.