Alphabet Ham and Bean Soup

• 1 12 tablespoons unsalted butter or 1 12 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 rib celery, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
• 1 medium parsnip, peeled and grated
• 1 medium all-purpose potato, grated
• 5 12 cups beef stock or 5 12 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup diced ham
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leave (or 1/2 t. dried)
• 14-12 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 12 cup uncooked alphabet noodles
• 1 cup cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 12 cup canned tomato puree or 12 cup tomato juice

1. Melt the butter or heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Stir in the vegetables; cover, and sweat the vegetables, stirring a few times, for 3 minutes.
3. Add in the stock, ham, thyme, salt, and pepper; bring to a simmer, then cover and gently simmer the soup for 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the alphabet pasta; increase heat to med-high and continue to simmer the soup, partially covered, until the pasta is tender, 8-10 minutes.
5. When the pasta is tender, stir in the beans and tomato puree; simmer 5 more minutes before serving.

butter, onion, celery, carrot, parsnip, potato, beef stock, ham, thyme, salt, freshly ground black pepper, alphabet noodles, beans, tomato puree

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/alphabet-ham-and-bean-soup-443938 (may not work)