Food: Almost Tastes Like Lasagna Soup

There are a few canned staples I like to keep in my pantry such as Italian stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. It comes in handy for an easy, hearty, one pot dish such as this (I'm a one-pot kind of girl).

Almost Tastes Like Lasagna Soup
Adapted from the Deen Brothers Bobby's Tastes Lighter Than Lasagna Soup recipe
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1-2 T EVOO
16 oz Italian sausage, crumbled mild for kid friendly, hot for the wild folks or turkey for a lean dish
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz chicken stock
1 14 oz can Italian stewed tomatoes
1 14 oz can tomato sauce
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 lb ditalini or about 4-5 whole wheat lasagna strips broken into bite sized pieces.
1 T dried basil or 1/4 loose cup of slivered fresh basil
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Parmesean cheese, shaved

In a heavy stock pot, I like using my Le Creuset round 5 qt., add oil to heated pot and add sausage, onion, bell pepper, and garlic.  Cook until sausage is browned and onions translucent, on a medium high heat.  Add chicken stock, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste, salt, red pepper flakes (add dried basil at this point) and stir.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, letting it simmer for about 20 minutes, enough for the flavors to blend.  Remember to stir occasionally.  Add choice of pasta, remembering that whole wheat pasta takes longer to cook but, it does add a nice texture to the dish.  Increase the heat and bring back to a boil, boiling the pasta for as long as directed on the package.  Once the pasta is cooked, remove from heat and add (If you're using fresh basil) the slivered basil and mozzarella and stir gently.  The warmth of the dish will melt the cheese.  Sprinkle shaved parmesan cheese and serve.

I used a combination AND double the amount of pasta here, just because it's what I had on hand and I didn't want it soupy for my kids.  Soupy or not, it's great either way!