Garden Squash Minestrone

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lg onion
1 lb ground beef
2 cloves of garlic
1 lb zucchini or garden squash
3 carrots
2 stalks celery
8 tomatoes, quartered
4 cup beef stock
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup elbow macaroni
1/4 tsp pepper

Sauté onion, garlic, and beef in olive oil for 5 minutes in a large soup kettle. Add vegetables, stock, and herbs to kettle and simmer uncovered for 1 - 2 hours. Add macaroni and pepper and cook 20 minutes. You can substitute rice for the noodles, and leave out the beef for a vegetarian version.