Monster Mash Meatball Soup

Total recipe time: 30 minutes

Makes 4 servings.

1 package (16 ounces) frozen fully-cooked beef meatballs
1 cup frozen vegetable mixture, such as broccoli,
    cauliflower and carrots
2 cups water
1 can (14 to 14-1/2 ounces) ready-to-serve beef broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with roasted garlic
3/4 cup uncooked Halloween pasta shapes

Spooky Decorations
Dairy Sour Cream Full Moon (see below)
Black Olive Bats (see below)
Parmesan Cheese Ghosts (see below)
Creepy Croutons (see below)

Combine frozen vegetables, water, broth, tomatoes and pasta in large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 8 minutes or until pasta is just tender.

Meanwhile microwave meatballs according to package directions. Add meatballs to soup; simmer 3 minutes or until meatballs are heated through. Garnish with spooky decorations, as desired.

Dairy Sour Cream Full Moon: Spoon small amount of sour cream on top of soup forming full moon shape.

Black Olive Bats: Thinly slice olives crosswise into rings. Cut rings in half. Place olive slices on top of sour cream full moon to form bat wings.

Parmesan Cheese Ghosts: Place ghost-shaped cookie cutter on baking sheet. Place shredded Parmesan cheese inside cookie cutter, pressing down slightly with fingers to form shape. carefully remove cookie cutter and repeat to make desired amount of ghosts. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 3 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly. Remove ghosts with spatula to wire rack; cool completely. Serve with soup.

Creepy Croutons: Cut sliced white bread into Halloween shapes with cookie cutters. Place shapes on baking sheet; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake shapes at 350 degrees F about 10 minutes or until bread is toasted and cheese begins to brown.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association.