You’re Not Going To Miss It – Pasta Fagioli

   I like the new idea of meatles Mondays.  Growing up we had two days of not eating meat at dinner. The first was on Friday and then again on Wednesday.  I realized  this  when I was around 10 years old and when I asked my mom why??  She told us ..no meat on Friday because of Good Friday and Wednesday because of Ash Wednesday….that’s how it was done in Malta when she was growing up and that’s the way it is for us too.  Oh…ok…..Lent or no Lent…….it was to be observed all year long, and still is to this very day.  So I guess, it is no wonder that I grew up thinking soup was a meal and  to love all kinds of soup .  One of my favorite is Pasta and Bean Soup aka Pasta Fagioli!!! Easy to make and so good for your body and your soul.

Let’s get cooking:

serves 4

1 medium onion diced,  2 clove garlic diced, 1 stalk celery diced = saute in 1 Tb olive oil

add 1-16oz can tomato sauce and can full of water – salt/pepper/red pepper flakes to taste – add 1 bay leaf and bring to boil then cook on low 10 minutes

drain and rinse 1-16oz can cannolini beans – add to tomato mix and stir – cook on low

cook 2 cups elbow macaroni in well salted water – drain – saving a cup of  pasta water in case you need some – toss pasta and tomato/bean mix together in a large bowl – if you need the pasta water, add as much as you need now –  remove bay leaf and add in 1 cup fresh spinach leaves cut in half and finish off with grated parmesan or romano cheese..,,I like this soup with sesame breadsticks smeared with  butter….. Enjoy!