PASTINA EGG SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, celery, carrot and shallots and cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes, or until softened.
• Add the thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, the parmesan rind, chicken stock and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the pasta and stir with a wooden spoon to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Return to a simmer and cook 8 to 10 minutes more, or until the pasta is cooked and the liquid is slightly thickened.
• Remove the thyme sprigs and parmesan rind. Stir in the peas. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated parmesan and lemon zest, if desired.

Steps:

• Meatballs: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Form into very small balls (I get approximately 90 meatballs from 1 pound ground beef. I bake mine on a nonstick cookie sheet and turn them half-way through the cooking time).
• Bake about 10-15 minutes, until the meatballs have browned but are still soft (watch closely).
• Remove from oven and drain on paper towel, if necessary.
• Soup: Place all of the ingredients, except the pasta and escarole or spinach, into the crock pot with meatballs.
• Cook on low for 8 hours (Add pasta and escarole or spinach during the last hour of cooking and salt to taste, if necessary).
• Remove bay leaves.
• Top each serving with grated parmesan or romano cheese.
• Note: The meatballs must be prepared before being put into the crock pot (make them the night before and put them in the refrigerator, or even keep a batch in the freezer. I basically prepare as much as I can in advance so all I have to do is just put it all in the crock pot in the morning).