Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      cup           onions -- chopped
     1/2  cup           diced carrot
     1/2  cup           diced celery
  32      ounces        italian tomatoes -- seeded and chopped
   1      cup           nonfat chicken broth
  12      ounces        pinto beans -- canned, reserve 1/2
                        -- c. liq.
   1      teaspoon      garlic powder
   1      teaspoon      dried basil
   1      teaspoon      dried oregano
   1      dash          pepper
   6      ounces        pasta shells -- cooked, * see note
   2      ounces        ground beef -- cooked

Preparation:

In a 2 quart nonstick saucepan, spray iwth non-stick cooking spray. Add onions and garlic and saut‚ until vegetables begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add pinto beans with reserved liquid, hot pasta, ground beef, basil, oregano, and pepper and stir to combine. Stir 10 minutes longer to allow flavours to blend. Add water as needed.