Rainy Day = Pasta Fagioli

The season has begun and while Ronaldo and I wrapped the first of our Christmas presents and enjoyed the rain, it seemed like the perfect day to make some homemade Fagioli.(Ron's personal favorite...he so wants to be Italian!)  There are millions of Italians and millions of recipes for this delicious peasant soup, and I've probably made about 20 versions myself.  Here's todays version:

1/2 lb pancetta diced
1 medium onion diced
3 large cloves garlic
2 tbls olive oil
2 cans cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cans low sodium chicken or beef stock (I used beef today)
1 cup small elbow or tiny tube pasta
good handful chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. minced rosemary
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper


Saute the onion and garlic in olive oil till soft in heavy bottom pan.  Remove and saute pancetta until crisp.  Drain all but 2 tbs of the drippings.  Add onion and garlic back into pan along with the crushed and tomato sauce and stock. Bring to a soft boil.
Drain beans and rinse well.  In separate pan, in plenty of water and 2 tbls salt, cook pasta till very al dente (to the tooth...aka NOT MUSHY! LOL)
Simmer tomato mixture for about 30-45 minutes, with 1/2 of basil, all of rosemary and red pepper.
Add beans, cooked pasta and rest of basil along with a big drizzle of EVOO and simmer 5 or so minutes till hot.  Serve with a good helping of the best Parmesan cheese and serve with a thick slice of  delicious crusty bread. That and a glass of wine and a Xmas movie.....done!  Enjoy!