Pasta e Fagioli

I don't know about you but our weather here in Cascade has been more than a little on the chilly side lately and when that happens, there is nothing better than a hot cuppa soup, one of which is Olive Garden's Pasta e Fagioli Soup.  I didn't feel like driving 24 miles to Hagerstown to Olive Garden so I came up with this version of my own.  

I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Pasta e Fagioli

Ingredients

1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked

2 tbs olive oil

½  lb spicy Italian sausage, casing removed

½ lb hamburger meat

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

3 carrots, peeled and grated

2 stalks celery, diced

3 cups beef broth

2 cups water

1 qt whole tomatoes or 15 oz tomato sauce + 15 oz diced tomatoes

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp thyme

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 cups dried navy beans

Boil beans until nearly done and set aside.  Cook hamburger meat and Italian sausage until done, drain and set aside.  Sauté the onion and celery in oil until tender but not done.   In a large stock pot, add the beef broth, water, tomatoes, vegetables, beans, meat and spices.  Simmer for at least an hour.  Add the pasta and cook until done then serve.  

Serve with grated parmesan, a warm bread and a salad.  

~hugz n blessingz~

Elizabeth

Zucchini Bread

Nothing beats a summer garden and almost nothing is better to have with a good cup of coffee or tea and share with someone special than homemade zucchini bread!  I made some today after creating some gift baskets and now just taking a few moments to chill.  I hope you will try this recipe and that you enjoy it!  

*hugz n blessingz*

Elizabeth

Zucchini Bread

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups grated zucchini

1 1/4 cups cooking oil

4 cups ap flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

¾ tsp nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

Mix ingredients in order.  Place in 2 prepped loaf pans.  Bake in a 350 oven for 1 hour.  Cool in pans for 15 minutes then remove from pan.   These freeze well for a month.  Makes 2 loaves.