Alphabet Soup

This soup makes one of my 4-year-old's favorite meals. We like to use tri-color alphabet pasta. Any small pasta would work however.

The recipe is based on the pasta e fagioli recipe found in the "Saved by Soup" cookbook by Judith Barrett.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 – 3 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 box chicken broth (about 4 cups)
• 1 can diced tomatoes with juice (about 2-3 fresh tomatoes)
• 1 can navy or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• ⅔ cup alphabet pasta
• 1 – 2 tbsp fresh oregano, basil, and parsley (optional, and to taste)

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot
2. Add onions, carrots and celery.
3. Sauté for a few minutes until they are softened.
4. Add chicken broth and diced tomatoes.
5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes
6. Add beans and pasta.
7. Return to a boil and cook until pasta is done, about 10 minutes.
8. If desired, sprinkle with spices before serving and top with Parmesan cheese.