Josy's Jammin' Tomato Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, sliced
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, chunked
• 1 cup carrot, sliced or chunked
• 1 cup green beans, fresh bite size
• 1 cup cauliflower, small bite sized pieces
• 1 cup zucchini, sliced or chunked
• 1 cup mushroom, fresh and chunked
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons curry powder, hot or mild
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon chicken broth, powdered broth or stock
• 1 teaspoon beef broth, powdered broth or stock
• 1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle pepper, ground, i use one cube knorr's
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 (10 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
• 30 ounces water
• 1 (14 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 1 (18 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce, your favorite flavor
• 1 (16 ounce) can cannellini beans, or your favorite canned beans
• 1 lb smoked sausage, optional, or your favorite cooked meat, chunked
• 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, or your favorite pasta
• 1/4 cup parsley, fresh chopped, or cilantro

Recipe

• 1 please see notes regarding meats and pasta below.
• 2 chop garlic and onions, quite small. chop remaining vegetables into bite-sized slices or chunks. use whatever vegetables you and your family like. fresh spinach is great in this soup.
• 3 note on meats: if using smoked sausage, slice into chunks and pre-cook in skillet until slightly brown. set aside. if using left-over cooked chicken, beef, or lamb, simply chunk and set aside.
• 4 note on pasta: josy puts uncooked pasta directly into the soup. i don't like mine to get overcooked so i cook it separately (while soup simmers) and add it at right at the end.
• 5 in a small bowl put all seasonings, and set aside. note: this soup will be a bit spicy due to the curry powder so use cayenne and chipotle rather sparingly until you've tried it at the end.
• 6 to cook soup: using large soup pot, heat oil on medium then gently cook garlic and onions for 2 minutes.
• 7 turn heat up to medium high and toss in all raw/chopped vegetables. stir and cook on medium high for approximately 5 or 10 minutes - i cover mine - until vegetables are cooked to about three-quarters done, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes.
• 8 add meat, canned tomato soup, chopped tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, water, & seasonings to pot and stir well.
• 9 bring to a low boil/high simmer.
• 10 if using uncooked pasta, add now. stir well.
• 11 simmer for about 20 or 25 minutes - keep soup cooking at high enough temperature to cook the pasta. stir occasionally.
• 12 when pasta and vegetables in soup are fully cooked, add the canned beans and fresh parsley or cilantro. if using pre-cooked pasta, add now.
• 13 test flavor of soup. adjust seasonings as needed.
• 14 let simmer a further 5 minutes and you're ready to eat!
• 15 garnish with a bit of greenery and enjoy with a hot crusty bread!