Soup Recipes

6 cups water
1 pound hamhock(s)
1 onion, chopped
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 celery rib, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked macaroni
1/2 pound ground beef
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for accompaniment
Chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley for accompaniment

1. In a kettle, boil water, hamhocks, and chopped onion. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer on low for 2 hours.
2. Remove the hamhocks and return the meat to the pot, discarding the bone and fat. Add the chopped tomato, salt, sliced carrot, sliced celery, salt, and pepper.
3. Meanwhile, form ground beef into very small meatballs and brown in a skillet and add to the soup.
4. Cook macaroni according to the package directions and add to the soup.
5. Serve with Parmesan cheese and parsley sprinkled on top.

Makes 6 servings.