AWESOME TOMATO VEGETABLE SOUP
* 2 Large cans Italian Style tomatoes (you can use the regular
kind, too)
* 5-6 Stalks celery, chopped fine
* 2-3 medium onions chopped fine (i use a lot...modify to suit
your tastes)
* 6-8 cups water (amount not too important...you can add more
later)

Boil the above on high for at least 10 minutes. You can
chop the tomatoes in the blender, or break them up with a
spoon. I like to squish them in my hands.. gets out
frustration. (i usually put the seasoning in at this
point. see below)

Add pre-cooked beans (whatever you think will taste good)
to the above mixture. you can use canned, but I like the
dried beans better. I prefer a nine-bean soup variety
that's locally available. Not sure if it's available
everywhere.

Add vegetables to the above according to your tastes. Be
sure to add them according to cooking time. No set
amounts. Add them and stir. If it looks good, go with it.
If it looks like it needs more, toss some more in.

Potatoes, cubed (makes the base nice and thick) corn
zucchini summer squash cabbage (go easy...add it late or
it'll take over...i don't use it if i'm makin g it for
just us cause there's always leftovers and the cabbage
flavor gets stronger the longer it sits.)

you'd think carrots would taste good, but their flavor
took over and it was barely palatable. could just be my
taste, though. same with broccoli and cauliflower.

I season it with Oregano and Black pepper, and
occasionally garlic, but go easy with this. could make it
taste bitter.

We used to sprinkle parmesan cheese on it and serve with
crusty bread. now we don't use the parmesan, but i've been
known to sprinkle nutritional yeast on the top.

note: if the soup gets thicker than you want it, add
water, but add it slowly. it'll thin out, and so will the
flavor. If you do add water toward the end, be sure to let
it stew for a while longer.