Hearty Meatball Soup

"They had Premium saltines on sale at Ralph's one day so I picked up a box. I happened to check out the recipe on the back a few days later and miraculously had all of the ingredients at home to make it and a beautiful new Martha Stewart Dutch oven begging to be used, so I ventured to make this hearty soup. Took it to work the next day, as I'm virtually incapable of cooking in volumes less than feeding an army, and the entire office ate it for lunch and loved it. It's kind of an Americanized version of Mexican Albondigas soup. Phil even suggested I make Homemade Soup Wednesdays a weekly routine!"

[this is the doubled recipe with added beans and veggies]

1 lb lean ground beef
2 cups chopped onion, divided
6 cloves garlic, minced, divided
4 teaspoons dried oregano leaves, divided
40 PREMIUM saltine crackers, finely crushed
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cans (14 oz) broth (beef, chicken, veggie)
2 cans (14.5 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 can kidney beans, washed and drained (optional)
1 can cannelini white beans, washed and drained (optional)
1 pkg (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
*fresh chopped spinach can also be used
1-2 small zucchini, sliced thin (optional)
1-2 small yellow squash, sliced thin (optional)

1. Combine meat, 1/2 cup of the onion, 1/3 of the garlic, 1 tsp of the oregano in a large bowl. Add cracker crumbs and egg; mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls; set aside.

2. Cook and stir remaining onion and the remaining garlic in hot oil in dutch oven or a large saucepan on medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender (nearly translucent). Add broth, tomatoes with their liquid, spinach and the remaining oregano; bring to a boil. Add meatballs one at time keeping soup at constant boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in veggies and beans; cover. Simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.

3. Serve with additional PREMIUM saltine crackers. Enjoy!

Makes: 10-12 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30-45 minutes

Source: PREMIUM saltine crackers back-of-the-box Quick & Easy recipe.