Pasta Fagioli Soup

It's COLD so why not make as many soups as possible to get us through these bitter days.  It's the perfect way to greet the end of the day - or the middle of the day - or heck, it's freezing, heat some up for breakfast!

(photo from allrecipes.com)

                                      

My friend Sharon made the most delicious pasta fagioli soup for us years ago and I've craved it ever since!  It's that type of comfort food that I love all Winter (and Spring) long.  I have yet to perfect it but I'm up for the challenge this weekend.  A bowl of this, some Parmesan cheese and a loaf of crusty bread and we'll be ready to say DELIZIOSO!

Ingredients

• 3 pounds lean ground beef 
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 4 cups chopped onion
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 2 (4.5 ounce) jars bottled minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 8 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 2 cups ditalini pasta
• 2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
2. In the same pot, heat the olive oil. Cook onion, celery, garlic and black pepper until vegetables are tender, 10 minutes. Stir in beef broth, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Season with thyme, basil, oregano and parsley. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. (At this point, you may put the pot on a back burner to keep warm and continue with the next steps about 1 hour prior to serving, if you wish.)
3. Stir in the beef and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in the pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the beans and heat through, 10 to 15 minutes. 

Have a great weekend!