Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup

This recipe started with a recipe from recipezaar.com and I adjusted a few ingredients. It takes some advance preparation, but can cook all day while you are at work.

Prep: 30-60 minutes
Cook time: 8 hours (can be longer also)

Serves: 6-8

Meatballs
1 lb. ground turkey (I used the variety that is already seasoned with Italian spices)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Soup
6 cups chicken stock
1 cup boneless cooked chicken breast (Baked or broiled and cut into shreds)
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup carrot, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
2 cups escarole or spinach, torn into small pieces
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup pastina or acini di pepe pasta
parmesan or romano cheese for serving

1. Meatballs: Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Form into very small balls. I used approximately 1/2 teaspoon for mine, but you can adjust them to your taste.
4. Bake about 10-15 minutes until all the meatballs have browned but are still soft (watch closely). I baked mine on a non-stick cookie sheet and turned them half way through cooking.
5. Remove from oven and drain on paper towel if necessary.

6. Soup: Place all of the ingredients, except the pasta and the escarole or spinach, inot the crock pot with the meatballs.
7. Cook on low for 8 hours. Add pasta and greens during last hour of cooking and salt to taste.
8. Remove bay leaves.
9. Top each serving with grated parmesan or romano cheese.

Notes: The meatballs must be made before being put into the crock pot. Try making them the night before and storing them in the refridgerator or making them in advance and freezing them.

I tried to prepare as much as I could in advance so that all I had to do in the morning was put it all in the crock pot and turn it on.

Leftover rotisserie chicken works well for the chicken.