Minestra (Escarole and Little Meatballs Soup)

From the Sopranos Family Cookbook with a little addition at the end from me. Yummy!

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  head escarole (about 1 pound)
• 6  quarts chicken broth, homemade if you have it
• 3  large carrots, chopped

• For the Meatballs

• 1  lb  ground veal or 1  lb beef
• 2  large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup onion, finely minced
• 1  cup  plain breadcrumbs
• 1  cup  freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 1  teaspoon salt
•  pepper, freshly ground (to taste)

• Foe the end of cooking and serving

• 8  ounces  ditalini or 8  ounces  tubetti or 8  ounces spaghetti, broken into bite sized pieces
• 1  large egg, mixed
•  freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Directions

1. Trim the escarole and discard any bruised leaves. Cut off the stem ends. Seperate the leaves and wash well in cool water, especially the center of the leaves where soil collects. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1 inch strips. You should have about 4 cups.
2. In a large pot, combine the escarole, broth, carrots. Bring to a simmer and cook until the escarole is almost tender, about 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients for the meatballs. Shape the mixture into tiny meatballs, less than 1 inch in diameter.
4. When the escarole is cooked, stir in the pasta and return the soup to a simmer. Drop the meatballs into the soup. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, until the meatballs and pasta are cooked, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. At this point I drizzle in one mixed egg and stir. It makes pretty egg flower strings throughout the soup.
5. Top with grated Parmesan and serve hot.