Aunt Boonie's Minestrone Soup

Night before: Place 1 1/2 pounds of ground pork sausage into 1 quart of boiling water. Mash into pieces and boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and refrigerate overnight. Break fat off from top of meat the next morning. Place sausage and water in a 6 to 8 quart stock pot. Add the following:

2 medium onions, cut coarsely
2 large carrots, diced
2 large stalks celery, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 small cans tomato sauce
2 cans beef stock bullion liquid
1 large can of WHOLE tomatoes run through blender first (just pulse it in the blender so as to NOT turn into mush)
1/4 to 1/2 tsp sweet basil
3/4 tsp oregano
2 Tbsp parsley flakes
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic powder to taste

Simmer all day or cook on low in a crockpot for 8 hours. One hour before serving add:

1 can French cut green beans, with juice
1 (4oz) can sliced mushrooms, with juice
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
2 handfuls of elbow macaroni

Enjoy! Serves 12.