Lasagna Soup

I found this recipe from Paula Dean and decided to give it a try.  Who doesn't like lasagna?

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground chuck (I used lean ground beef, you could use turkey)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper chopped (or any bell pepper you have on hand)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (I use already minced garlic to save time)
• 1 teaspoon thyme (this can be fresh or dried)
• 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 (32-ounce) box chicken broth
  
• 2 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (I used Herb De Provence)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups broken lasagna noodles
• 1 (5-ounce) package grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

 Garlic Crostini Recipe

• 1 thin French baguette
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  
• 2 cloves smashed garlic
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a dutch oven combine the meat, bell pepper and onion.  Cook on medium heat until the meat is cooked through.  Then drain your meat.  If you don't have a dutch oven, then a large stock pot will do just fine.

Stir in thyme, brown sugar, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add noodles, and simmer until noodles are tender. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.

How to make the the Garlic Costini:  Preheat the oven to 350, cut the bread in 1/4" round slices.  Place on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper,  and bake till they are golden brown.  Take them out of the oven, let cool, and rub with a smashed garlic clove.   Make a lot of these because they are yummy.  I cut the left over ones up and used them as croutons.  This was an awesome recipe and fairly inexpensive.  

Paula suggest you ladle the soup into individual oven proof bowls and top with the mozzarella cheese, and broil until the cheese is melted.  Now my husband does not need anything that fancy, so I just topped the hot soup with the mozzarella in a plain old bowl and topped with the garlic Crostini.   If you choose to go the fancy route, remember the bowl will be hot so let it cool before you serve.

Meal Cost: $18