Source: Top Secret Recipes (topsecretrecipes.com), saved recipe images (Google Drive)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
  • 1 large carrot, julienned (1 cup)
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans, with liquid
  • 1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, with liquid
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (12 oz) can V-8 juice
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 lb (1/2 pkg) ditalini pasta

Directions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat. Drain off most of the fat.
  2. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes.
  3. Add remaining ingredients except the pasta, and simmer for 1 hour.
  4. About 50 minutes into the simmering, cook the pasta in 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat for about 10 minutes, or just until al dente. Drain.
  5. Add the pasta to the pot of soup. Simmer for 5-10 minutes more and serve.

Serves 8.