Beef Minestrone

Packed full of vegetables. A light tasting soup that may need more seasoning added. The soup is low in calories and sodium.

Cost: About $11.20 ( $1.12 per serving) - 90/15 extra lean Ground Beef ($2.97), potatoes – 10 lb bag ($1.99), tomatoes ($1.23), cabbage ($1.50), carrots ($1.00), celery ($1.00), long grain rice ($1.50).

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 1 hour

Yield: 10 servings

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 6 cups water
• 3 cups cubed peeled potatoes (about 3 medium)
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes (about 1 medium)
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped celery (about 1 stalk)
• 1/4 cup uncooked long grain rice
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 5 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender; drain.
2. Add the water, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, celery, rice, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour.
3. Discard bay leaf. Sprinkle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon of Parmesan.

Nutrition: (1 cup) 169 calories, 4.7 g fat, 0.2 g saturated fat, 0.7 mg cholesterol, 29.6 mg sodium, 15.8 g carbohydrate, 1.7 g fiber, 1.5 g sugars, 11.2 g protein.