Forgotten Minestrone

• 1 pound beef stew meat, lean
• 6 cups water
• 28 ounces tomatoes can, with liquid, cut up
• 1 each beef bouillon cubes low sodium
• 1 each onions chopped
• 2 tablespoons parsley leaves dried
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt optional
• 1 1/2 teaspoon thyme ground
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 each zucchini thinly sliced
• 16 ounces chickpeas (garbanzo beans) canned, drained
• 1 cup pasta, elbow macaroni or shell macaroni, small, uncooked
• 1/4 cup parmesan, parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated grated, optional

1. In a slow cooker, combine beef, water, tomatoes, bouillon, onion, parsley, salt if desired, thyme and pepper.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or until meat is tender.
3. Add zucchini, cabbage, beans and macaroni; cook on high, covered, 30 to 45 minutes more, or until the vegetables are tender.
4. Sprinkle individual servings with parmesan cheese if desired.
5. Diabetic Exchanges: One serving (without added salt and parmesan cheese) equals 2 vegetable, 1 1/2 starch, 1 meat.
6. 246 CALORIES 453mg SODIUM 33mg CHOLESTEROL 30gm CARBOHYDRATE 19gm PROTEIN 6gm FAT

meat, water, tomatoes, onions, parsley, salt, thyme ground, black pepper, zucchini, chickpeas, pasta, parmesan

Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/forgotten-minestrone-2235 (may not work)