Texas Two-Step Soup

Probably called two-step because you just mix a jar of dry ingredients with the beef, cans, and water. If you want to give as a gift, layer gravy mix through pasta in jar, in that order, and seal. Then give this recipe to the recipient along with the jar. We bought two of these jars to support the goat project at church. We weren’t fond of the first soup, but this one we would make again!

½ lb ground beef
1 pkg (1.61 oz) brown gravy mix
2 Tbsp mild chili powder
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried minced onion
½ tsp garlic salt
10 to 22 tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
1 cup uncooked medium-size pasta
7 cups water
1 15-oz can confetti corn
1 (16) oz can chopped tomatoes

Brown ground beef in a large saucepan. Add next 8 ingredients (gravy mix through pasta) and 7 cups water. Heat to boiling. Stir in can of corn and can of tomatoes. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.

Serve with additional crushed tortilla chips and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, if desires. Makes 6 servings.