Pasta Fagioli Soup for a Summer Night

     So last week I asked for some new recipes which no one had so I thought I would share a new one of mine with you. Here it is. It's Pasta Fagioli soup. I love the Pasta Fagioli soup at Olive Garden and I have tried several times to make something similar and this comes the closest. I found this recipe and totally changed it to make my family like it. First it was meatless... meatless rarely flies around here. We are carnivores of the highest order. So, I added meat. Here is the recipe and I hope you like it. It is really pretty quick and easy and it doesn't heat up your house too much on a summer night. I made toasted garlic bread with it and that heated up the house, but it was delish. This was the amount I made for my family and we had plenty leftover. I would cut the beans to one can, use smaller cans of tomatoes and less water if I was doing this for a small family. I would still use both meats, perhaps only a 1/2 pound of each. Let me know what you think
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 lb. ground beef
In a large pot brown these together. There was very little grease so I didn't drain.
2 carrots skinned and chopped up
1 rib celery chopped up
Add to meat when meat in done. Cook for a few minutes.
Then add
1 large can tomato sauce 29 oz
1 small can diced tomatoes 14 oz
3 cans great northern beans
3 cans pinto beans
3 cans kidney beans
3 Tb spoons of dried parsley flakes
1 Tb spoon dried basil
1 Tb spoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 bay leaves
10 cups of water
Heat until almost boiling then add your pasta of choice. I used small shells.
Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top. Eat and enjoy.