Hearty Tomato Meatball Chowder

A nice soup to make if you have fresh tomatoes from your garden.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Yields: 3 quarts

Ingredients

• 6  cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
• 6  cups beef broth
• 2  teaspoons sugar
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2  cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2  cups mashed potatoes
• 2  cups fresh carrots, sliced
• 1  cup  fresh potato, diced
• 1  cup  fresh celery, diced
• 1⁄2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1  tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1⁄4 teaspoon thyme leaves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon basil leaves
• 1⁄2 lb ground beef
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  dash ground black pepper
• 1  tablespoon butter or 1  tablespoon margarine

Directions

1. Place beef broth, tomatoes, sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoons pepper and garlic in saucepan; cover and cook for 15 minutes.
2. Add mashed potatoes and continue cooking 10 minutes more until soup is thick.
3. Add carrots, potatoes, celery, mushrooms, parsley, thyme and basil and cook until vegetables are tender.
4. Mix meat with remaining salt and pepper.
5. Shape into 1/2 inch balls.
6. Saute in butter until browned.
7. Add to chowder.
8. Serve as main dish soup for luncheon or dinner.
9. Makes 3 quarts.
10. All About Tomatoes.