Martha's Soup

Probably not the Martha you're thinking of, unless you also have a young child who loves the show "Martha Speaks" on PBS.



Bird had been begging for alphabet soup. So I picked up some alphabet pasta and whipped up some soup.  The soup was popular enough that I had to make it again almost as soon as the first batch was gone.  Even the grown-ups liked it.  It might not make your dog talk, but it does make a nice lunch.

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
1 28-oz can tomato puree
4 cups water
1 cup alphabet pasta (or other small pasta shape)
salt and pepper to taste
juice of 1 lemon

Add oil to a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Finely dice onion and add it to the pot, stirring to coat onion with oil.

While the onion cooks, peel and mince the garlic.  Add garlic to pot and stir again.  Allow onion and garlic to cook together for about 5 minutes until onion is translucent.

Add tomato puree and heat to a bare simmer.  Add water, stir to combine, cover and bring to a full simmer.  Taste for seasoning.  Add salt and pepper as needed. Add pasta and stir.  Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

When pasta is cooked through, remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.   Serve to children, adults and any cartoon dogs who come to visit.