Hearty Minestrone Soup

I was in the mood to "play with my food," so I decided to give minestrone a try. It's very good, but if you have time for it to simmer for awhile, it's even better as the flavors blend and meld.

6 C water
4 TB THRIVE Tomato Powder
1 can beef broth
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 Bay leaf
1 tsp parsley
1/2 C small shell pasta OR THRIVE elbow macaroni

1/4 C each of the following THRIVE freeze-dried products:
Onions
Celery
Carrot
Mixed bell peppers
Sausage crumbles
Sweet corn
Green beans

1 tsp olive oil


Heat water and stir in tomato powder. Add remaining ingredients except olive oil. Allow to simmer for at least an hour (the longer the better!!) Stir in olive oil, remove bay leaf, and serve hot. Top with parmesan or romano cheese, if desired. This recipe makes 4 decent-sized, fill you up, bowls of soup.