Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup

1/3 cup each: dried green split peas, dried lentils and pearl barley
½ cup dried black-eyed peas
3-½ cups fat free beef broth
4-½ cups water
1 16oz can tomatoes, undrained
2 ½ cups chopped vegetables (celery, onion, zucchini, carrots, green pepper,mushrooms, etc.)
2 tsp. Dried basil
1-½ tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Garlic, chopped
2 bay leaves
3 1/3 TBS Parmesan cheese

Wash peas, lentils and barley. Mix with broth and water in a large kettle. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer another hour or until peas are tender. Discard bay leaves. Serve with Parmesan cheese.