Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli from Top Secret

Made by balloon shiela.  delicious

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced = 1 cup
1 large carrot, julienned = 1 cup
3 stalks celery, chopped = 1 cup
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can red kidney beans with liquid
1 15 oz can great northern beans with liquid
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 12 ounce can V-8 juice
1 T white vinegar
1-1/2 t. salt
1 t. dried oregano
1 t dried basil
12 t ground black pepper
1/2 t dried thyme
1/2 pound ditalini pasta

DO THIS

Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Drain off most of the fat.

Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes
add remaining ingredients ECEPT THE PASTA, and simmer for 1 hour

About 50 into the simmering, cook the pasta in 2 qts boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes ur just until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough, Drain,

Add the pasta to the large of soup. Simmer for 5-10 minutes more and serve

SERVES 8