chunky garden vegetable soup

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 3-5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 4 cups broth from chicken base or canned chicken broth
• 3 - carrots, halved, sliced, or 2-3 handfuls of whole baby carrots
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cups v-8 juice (approx. amount)
• 2 - medium tomatoes or 1 to 1/2 jar home canned tomatoes w/ juice
• 2-3 - celery ribs, sliced
• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1 medium yellow squash, chopped
• 2 (15oz) cans red kidney beans, drained (or other combinations)
• 2 (15oz) cans northern or garbanzo beans, drained (or one of each)
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning, or according to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• - sometimes i add 1 -15oz can of drained green beans or 2 cups of shredded cabbage