Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup - Marla Meridith

Ingredients

• 12 ounces acini pepe pasta (or any small pasta), cook to package directions
• 3/4 pound ground meat (chicken, turkey, pork, beef, lamb, or a combination)
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs or panko
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• baby spinach, about 6 lightly packed cups
• red pepper flakes, optional
• lemon wedges, optional