Pampered Chef Italian Meatball Soup

• 2 medium carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 small onion
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning mix
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in puree
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 16 frozen fully cooked meatballs
• salt
• fresh coarse ground black pepper

1. Peel carrots. Finely chop carrots, celery and onion with a food chopper.
2. Lightly spray a 4 quart casserole with oil and add carrots, celery and onion. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables begin to brown, stirring occasionally.
3. Push vegetables to one side of casserole. Add tomato paste; cook 1-2 minutes or until tomato paste begins to caramelize.
4. Add pressed garlic and seasoning mix; mix well. Stir in tomatoes, broth and water; bring to a simmer.
5. Cut meatballs in half; add to soup. Simmer an additional 10-12 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper.

carrots, stalks celery, onion, tomato paste, garlic, italian seasoning mix, tomatoes, beef broth, water, meatballs, salt, ground black pepper

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/pampered-chef-italian-meatball-soup-272225 (may not work)