Wagon Wheel Soup

This one of my favorite recipes. It took me a few attempts to get it just right, but it was worth it. I always make a large pot so that we have plenty of leftovers . The kids love the wagon wheels and don't even realize that they're eating the vegetables.This dish is great to make on a cool or rainy Autumn night, It's healthy, fast and meatless. There are no heavy creams or fats added. It good, healthy vegetables. You can even substitute whole wheat pasta and add others vegetables to make it even more healthy. I hope you become a fan like we did.

Wagon Wheel Soup

Ingredient List:

1 lb package wagon wheel pasta
2 tbs olive oil
4-6 large cloves garlic, minced
1 large sweet onion, diced
1/2 package peeled baby carrots
4 large stalks of celery
2 cans vegetable or chicken broth
1 large can tomato sauce
1 large can tomato paste
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper

Coat bottom of 6 quart pot with olive oil. As soon as oil is hot, add minced garlic and onion. Cook until the onions are translucent. Now, dice carrots and celery and add them to the pot. Add broth and let simmer until the carrots begin to get tender. If there isn't even liquid, you can add a couple of cups of water. Add tomato sauce and paste to the pot. Fill the empty tomato sauce and paste cans with hot water and add to pot. Stir everything together and bring to a low boil for about five minutes or so. Now add the seasonings. You may want to experiment by putting in a little at a time, some people like their food extra spicy others do not. Add the entire box of wagon wheel pasta and stir several times making sure that the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Continue cooking for approximately 10 to 12 minutes or until the pasta is tender. The pasta will absorb a great deal of the moisture , so add water until you reach the consistency that you like. We like our soup thick and hearty, but don't be afraid to dilute it with water. It's very flavorful and you won't ruin the soup. When serving you may want to garnish the soup with a little Parmesan or mozzarella cheese. When warming up leftover soup, make sure to add some water if there's not enough liquid. Don't be afraid to share, it's easy enough to make more. We like to have fresh baked bread or hot rolls with our soup. It's fantastic!