Macaroni & Red Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 c kidney beans
1 onion
1 carrot
2 celery stalks
3 garlic
1 tb parsley
2 tb olive oil
1 1/4 c tomatoes
1 c tomato juice
1/2 vegetable bouillon cube
8 oz elbow macaroni
1 tb tomato paste
1 ts mixed herbs

Instructions

Salt & pepper Cook beans until tender. Cool in their cooking liquid. Lightly saute the onion, carrot, celery, parsley & garlic in the olive oil until softened & slightly browned. Ladle in the beans & 2 cups of their cooking liquid, the tomatoes, tomato juice bouillon cube & macaroni. Bring to a boil & cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Stir carefully. Cover & let stand for a few minutes to allow the pasta to plump up. Add more stock or juice if the mixture is too dry. Stir in the rest of the ingredients & serve immediately.