Alphabe-Thursday..."M" as in Meatballs

It's time again for Ms. Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday and this week we are studying the letter "M" as in MEATBALL MINESTRONE Soup.

I know I've posted this recipe before, but it's so quick and easy and one of my favorites when the weather gets cold. Some years back I was sitting under a hair dryer when I spotted this recipe in a magazine and quickly jotted it down on a piece of scrap paper. I no longer remember what magazine I was reading at the time, but this soup has become very popular with the entire family (except for Keith who hates beans).

Here's a picture of the soup, but it doesn't look too good because I took the picture when the soup was ice cold. As usual I had forgotten to take a picture and had to get the leftovers out of the refrigerator for this shot.

Meatball Minestrone

3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T. olive oil
3 (15 oz.) cans Cannellini beans, undrained,divided
1 (32 oz.) box chicken broth
1 (1.4 oz) package vegetable soup mix (I useKnorr vegetable soup mix.)
60-64 frozen cooked meatballs (I use Italianmeatballs)
1 (14 ½ oz.) can diced tomatoes with basil,garlic, oregano
½ t. dried, crushed red pepper
8 oz. Uncooked rotini pasta
1 (10 oz.) bag, fresh spinach, torn
Garnishes: Parmesan cheese, chopped freshparsley

Saute garlic in hot oil in stock pot overmedium high heat one minute; stir in two cans beans and chicken broth. Bring toboil.

Stir in vegetable soup mix until dissolved. Addmeatballs, tomatoes, and red pepper. Return to boil. Add rotini and cook,stirring often for 15 minutes.

Stir in remaining can of beans and spinach.Cook five more minutes. Garnish if desired. Yield: 4 quarts; Prep: 10 minutes;Cook: 30 minutes

Now head over to Ms. Jenny's blog so you can visit some more Alphabe-Thursday posts.