Italian Wedding Soup

By á-30

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. meat loaf mix (ground beef and pork)
• 2 tsp. dried parsley
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/4 tsp. oregano
• 1/4 tsp. basil
• 1/4 c. milk
• Combine the ingredients above. Form small 1/2 inch balls. Drop into boiling salted water. Simmer for 10 minutes, remove with a straining spoon, place on paper towels to drain briefly, then refrigerate
• 1 stewing chicken
• 1 onion, quartered
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 carrot, thickly sliced
• 2 stalks celery, with leaves, cut up
• 1/3 teaspoon oregano
• 4 peppercorns
• 2 tsp. salt
• 6 qts. water

Preparation

Step 1

Simmer chicken with the reamining ingredients in the 6 quarts of water about 2 1/2 hours or until tender. Remove skin and bones, cut up and refrigerate. Strain broth and return to pot.
Add 1 head escarole, torn into bite sized pieces, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste. Simmer 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, break spaghetti into 4 inch long pieces and cook according to package directions; drain.

Add 1 1/2 cups prepared chicken and meatballs to broth. Simmer 10 minutes more.

Variations: White cannelloni beans may be added; ham or proscuitto may be substituted for chicken.

This freezes well and can be doubled if you have a pot large enough