Sophia's Hamburger Macaroni Soup

I have dozens of recipes in my draft file...that I refuse to post until I have the pictures of it to share.  I've made friend, Sophia's delicious soup a dozen times but forget to take a picture.  What I like about this soup is that I can make a tiny batch easily with small cans of V-8 juice.  It is truly a comfort food.  If I don't have V-8 handy, I substitute a can of tomato...and then it tastes like growing up.

Sophia's Hamburger Macaroni Soup


1-2 pounds hamburger

2 ribs of chopped celery

1 chopped onion

1 large can V-8 juice

1/4-1/2 can of water

1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar

salt and pepper to taste.

Brown hamburger, celery and onion in stockpot. Add the V-8 juice, the water, the brown sugar and salt and pepper. Simmer slowly for an hour, then bring to a boil right before serving. Add 2 cups of macaroni noodles. Boil until pasta is cooked. If you add the pasta at the beginning, it becomes too starchy. Great with fresh corn bread