It was hailing here with some thunder earlier, which can only mean one thing - a good bowl of hot soup!
This is Pasta e Fagioli Soup.
The finished product

With some roasted garlic bread
Recipe:
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 pound of lean ground beef - I used lean ground turkey instead
2 whole carrots
4 celery stalks
1 large yellow onion
28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
32 ounce container of beef broth - I used the one with 50% reduced sodium
2 whole bay leaves
1 teaspoon of dried oregano - I used closer to one tablespoon
1 teaspoon of dried basil
1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 can of cannellini beans
1 can of kidney beans - I used the dark red kidney beans
1 cup of ditalini pasta uncooked - I used the whole wheat version
Instructions:
1. I browned the ground turkey, then threw in the carrots, celery and yellow onion, and let cook for an additional five minutes
2. Pour in the beef stock, the crushed tomatoes along with all the spices
3. Let this simmer on low heat (2.5 on my stove) for 3-4 hours.
4. With 30 minutes remaining, add the beans and the pasta, and continue to simmer or the remaining thirty minutes.
Makes about five hearty bowls.
This recipe can also be made in a slow cooker / crockpot if so desired, though if cooked on low heat, then you'll need to go for 8 - 10 hours. If high heat, then 3-4 just like the Dutch oven.