Minestrone Soup

Christine Christensen

This was my mother's recipe who was an amazing cook. She always had a pot going on the stove top in the fall to take to neighbors, friends - anyone she felt needed it. She served so quietly, but I noticed and will always remember it. My mother has been gone now for 13 1/2 years and this soup has become a comfort food for me because it reminds me of her and the loving way she served everyone around her.

1 qt. water
4 carrots, cut into bite size pieces
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 onions, chopped
1 (12 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 qt. tomatoes
1 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1 bouillon cube
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 lb. sausage
1 can green beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 pkg. egg noodles

Brown and drain sausage. Add water, carrots, celery, onions, tomato sauce, tomatoes, parsley, oregano, basil, bouillon, and sugar. Simmer for several hours. Cook noodles, and then add to soup. Just before serving add green beans and garbanzo beans, heating through.