Sweet Potato Minestrone soup

We love Minestrone soup around our house in all its varieties. So I'm always looking for new varieties. I made this last night becaue we had everthing on hand and it was delicious!

Sweet Potato Minestrone Soup
(Adapted from Allrecipes.com)

1 Tbsp. Vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 large stalks celery, chopped
3 tsp. Italian seasoning
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
4 1/2 c. chicken broth (do veggie if you want this totally vegetarian/vegan)
1/2 c. apple juice
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced (Original recipe called for 2 which you could do. I just had one)
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced thin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. dry macaroni
1 (15 oz.) can cannelini beans, drained & rinsed.

Heat oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion, celery, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, with the juice, broth, apple juice, sweet potatoes, carrots, and garlic. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

Add macaroni and simmer another 10 minutes. Then add the beans and heat through. 

We served this with garlic cheese toast and its a total winner!