Italian Meatball Soup

This is a 'whip-it-up-quick' meal. Have an onion? A few carrots? A half pound of ground beef?  You have the makings of one of my family's favorite meals. 

We love eating this when we've been eating out a lot, or have been traveling, or any time we want something to soothe that tummy. Even with the onion and beef in the ingredients it manages to set your system right. We learned to make this from my sister-in-law Daniela in Sicily. She would have this treat hot and ready to eat each time we arrived for a visit. Wonderful after that long plane ride. 

Italian Meatball Soup

Feeds 5 adults

Work time: 10 min

Cook time: 20-30 min

5 carrots, peeled and cut in bite sized pieces. 

2 onions, roughly chopped

*also good are sliced mushrooms, frozen corn, celery, etc

1 lb grass fed ground beef

1/2 c Parmesan

1/2 c bread crumbs 

Garlic powder

2 bay leaves

Pepper

Oregano

Salt

Cayenne pepper

Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Rice or 1/4 lb broken spaghetti (optional)

Fill a soup pot with about 3 quarts water and set on high heat. Add hard chopped veggies. Save any soft ones you want to use for later. Mix meat with Parmesan and bread crumbs. Add a couple tbsp milk or water to soften. Add 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder. Mix well. Form 1" balls, packing firmly, and drop in the water as you go. If using rice, add 1/2 c at the same time as the meat. 

Now add 2 bay leaves, 1/2 tsp pepper, 2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp oregano. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 30 min, skimming off any foam. Add those soft optional veggies about 15 min into cooking, and 5 minutes before serving add a few dashes cayenne and taste for saltiness. You can add Worcestershire to the meatballs when makings them, or the broth at this point. It's good with or without it. 

It should taste peppery and flavorful. 

We serve it with Parmesan on the table, bread we've opened and toasted for extra crunch, or you can cut up bread in cubes, toss in a ziploc with a drizzle of olive oil, a handful of shredded Parmesan, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, shake well, then pour on foil and broil in the oven for amazing croutons. 

Serving this to unexpected guests the other day, my son in college texted me and was instantly wishing he were home to join us!   By the way, I did say use a pound of meat. If you don't have it, no worries. Half a pound is just fine. Make smaller meatballs and add rice or broken spaghetti (add pasta in the last 10 minutes). Enjoy!