Thank You Tara Pork Roll Soup

Well it is a snowy Pennsylvania day and I decided to make soup this morning. I went into the fridge and pulled out fresh vegetables and I saw the pork roll sitting there and an idea hit me. Why not make soup with some of it. Now I have no idea what pork roll is made of; all I know is that my daughter-in-law Tara brought pork roll to us from her hometown of Howell, New Jersey and we Pittsburghers love the stuff.  In the summer it is fabulous grilled on a sandwich with our fresh tomatoes. It is great scrambled with eggs also. So here is my Pork Roll Soup recipe - boy did my hubby and I enjoy it for our lunch today. So Thank You Tara!!

 

 

1 cup chopped celery

2 carrots coarsely chopped

1 slice of pork roll (1 inch thick) diced

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tblsp olive oil

64 oz chicken broth

1 small can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs

1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans

1 cup Spanish rice (cooked)

1/4 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

 

Saute the celery, carrots, garlic and pork roll in the olive oil for about 10 minutes. Then add broth, tomatoes, beans, rice and macaroni. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for about an hour. When carrots are tender season with salt and pepper to taste. As you can see I happened to have left over spanish rice and threw it in; but you could use any leftover pasta or rice you have on hand.