Healthy Hamburger and Green Bean Soup

I make this thick comforting soup often for my family during the cold winter months. It is so fast and easy to fix and it is rather low in fat and calories. This makes 4 very large servings. To reduce sodium, you may use low sodium green beans if you prefer. I adapted this recipe from "Fast, Cheap and Easy," by JoAnna Lund. Condensed cream of tomato soup and condensed regular tomato soup are interchangeable in this recipe; no alterations necessary.The important part is that it is indeed a condensed version of tomato soup, as opposed to ready to serve.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

•  butter-flavored cooking spray
• 1⁄2 lb lean ground beef
• 1  cup onion, chopped
• 1 (10 3/4ounce) can  condensed cream of tomato soup (original version called for low fat or low sodium, I use regular)
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 2⁄3 cup  instant rice, uncooked
• 1 (15 ounce) can  cut green beans, rinsed & drained
• 2  teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Spray a large saucepan with cooking spray.
2. Brown beef and chopped onions over medium heat until cooked though; drain any fat.
3. To the browned meat and onions, add the cream of tomato soup, tomato sauce, and water.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Add uncooked instant rice, green beans, parsley, and black pepper; stir well.
6. Cover and reduce heat to low.
7. Simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring once or twice.