Eggplant Chicken Alphabet Soup

• 2 cups eggplants, peeled and cubed
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced
• 1 medium yellow squash, sliced
• 1 cup carrot, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, diced (or use a garlic press)
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 12 teaspoon salt
• 12 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons Splenda sugar substitute (or sugar, if you're not worried about calories)
• 1 cup whole wheat alphabet pasta (or try the organic vegetable variety)

1. Wash and prepare vegetables as noted above.
2. Set eggplant aside in a bowl with a generous sprinkling of salt.
3. This will help reduce bitterness.
4. Thinner-skinned eggplants may not need to be peeled.
5. In large (6 qt) pot over medium heat, saute onions, garlic, and celery until onions are clear.
6. Add diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, tomato juice, carrots, basil, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Splenda to pot.
7. Brown chicken in a separate pan, then drain and add to pot.
8. Rinse eggplant thoroughly and add to pot.
9. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, checking vegetables periodically until close to desired level of doneness.
10. Add pasta during last 8-10 minutes of cooking.

eggplants, chicken, zucchini, yellow squash, carrot, stalks celery, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomatoes, tomato juice, basil, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, splenda sugar substitute, whole wheat alphabet pasta

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/eggplant-chicken-alphabet-soup-253565 (may not work)