I came up with this recipe to cure my wife's Olive Garden addiction. It became an expensive habit which required an intervention. I am happy to say she is recovering nicely, and actually prefers this soup to the original.

You wil need: 2 pounds ground beef, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup match stick carrots, 3-7 cloves(depending on your taste) finely chopped garlic, 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes with liquid, 15 oz can red kidney beans, 15 oz can great northern beans, 15 oz can tomato sauce, 12 oz can v-8 juice, 15 oz can beef broth, 1 cup water and 1 tbs white vinegar.

Spices will include: 11/2 tsp salt, 11/2 tsp fresh ground pepper,1tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/4 tsp cayenne.

1/2 lb of ditalini pasta is also required.

Brown ground beef about 2/3 of the way. Drain off fat and add garlic,onion, carrot,and celery. Continue cooking until beef is cooked through.

Move beef and veggies to a stock pot. Rinse red and white beans and add to pot with all remaining ingredients except for pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.

Boil pasta in a separate pot. Do not add to soup pot as this may add too much starch to your broth. Spoon desired amount of pasta into your soup bowl.

Makes about a gallon of soup.