Vegetable Bean Minestrone Soup

Description
Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Ingredients

 * ¼ cup dried navy beans
 * ¼ cup dried chickpeas
 * ¼ cup dried kidney beans
 * ¼ cup dried pinto beans
 * ½ pound hot Italian sausage or ground beef
 * 8 cups water
 * 2 cups tomato sauce
 * 5 cups sliced vegetables of choice, such as cabbage, green beans, onions, green pepper, carrots or yellow squash
 * ½ cup small pasta
 * 2 tsp salt

Seasoning packet

 * 2 tsp dried basil
 * 2 tsp dried oregano
 * 2 tablespoons beef or vegetable bouillon granules
 * ½ tsp garlic powder
 * ¼ tsp dried rosemary
 * 1 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

 * 1) Cover beans with water and soak overnight.
 * 2) Drain beans and rinse.
 * 3) Sauté sausage or ground beef in a large pan, add beans, water, tomato sauce and the seasoning packet, and bring to simmering.
 * 4) Cook, covered for one hour.
 * 5) Add sliced vegetables.
 * 6) Next, add pasta and salt.
 * 7) Cook, covered for 20 more minutes until vegetables are tender.