Tex-Mex Minestrone Recipe

Directions:

1. In a 3-quart size saucepan, brown the ground beef. Drain off any excess fat.
2. Add remaining ingredients, (except the cheese) and stir.
3. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
4. Simmer the soup for about 5-8 minutes, or until pasta is cooked, and soup has heated through.
5. Ladle soup into bowls.
6. Sprinkle each bowl with desired amount of cheese.
7. (Adding cheese cuts down on the 'heat', so soup isn't too hot 'n spicy.).
8. Yield: 3-4 servings.
9. Note: I didn't have a bottled Italian dressing on hand, so I used a home-made Italian Dressing, (which I made from a packet I had purchased from Aldi's).