Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped 
• 3 stalks celery, chopped 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce
• 1 can (15 ounces) beef broth
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, without the liquid
• 1 can (15 ounces) white kidney beans, with liquid
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 8 ounces ditalini pasta, precooked weight

Directions:

1. In a large pot, over Medium heat, cook the ground beef.
2. Drain the liquid from the cooked beef (if any).  If you use ground beef with a lower fat ratio then you will have little to no liquid to drain.
3. Stir in the chopped onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic.  Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, red  kidney beans (with the liquid). Black beans no liquid.
5. Season with the salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and thyme and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
6. When the soup has 10 minutes left to simmer, cook the ditalini pasta in boiling water for 7 minutes or until a bit firmer than al dente.  Do not over cook the pasta.
7. Drain the pasta and stir it into the soup.  Simmer for 10 more minutes.

And enjoy with your family like I enjoy with my family.