The Ospidillo Cafe Minestrone Soup

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, saut the bell pepper, onion, and Italian sausage in 3 teaspoons of the olive oil until the sausage has browned, (about 12 minutes). While it is cooking, break up the sausage as much as you can.

Drain and discard grease.In a large cooking pot, pour in the sausage blend, celery, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes with juice, beef stock, V-8, broccoli, garlic, basil leaves, Italian dressing mix, bouillon cubes, oregano, hot sauce, soy sauce, and six cups of the water, but do not add the lima beans or peas yet. These go in later. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to effect a slow boil and cover, stirring occasionally.In a second cooking pot, pour in the reserved 3 quarts of water, the remaining teaspoon-full of olive oil and the teaspoon of salt. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat, covered. When it boils, slowly add the pasta and reduce the heat to effect a mild boil, uncovered. Cook the pasta, stirring occasionally, until it is just tender (al dente), then, before draining, remove one cup of the pasta water and add it to the soup.Shock the drained pasta in cold water (this will keep it from turning mushy later), re-drain and set it aside.After the soup has cooked for one hour, add the lima beans and peas. After 25 minutes more, add the drained pasta to the soup and allow it to cook, uncovered, for 5 more minutes.

Serve hot.TIP: As the soup sits, it will absorb more liquid. Simply thin it with canned chicken broth and re-heat it if you want it thinner.