Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup

1 lb Ground Beef
1 small onion diced (1 cup)
1 lg carrot julienned (1 cup)
3 stalks celery chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
1-15 oz ca red kidney beans (with liquid)
1-15 oz can great northern beans (with liquid)
1-15 oz can tomato sauce
1-12 oz can V-8 Juice
1 Tbls white vinegar
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 lb (1/2 pckg) Ditali Pasta

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

Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and saute for 10 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients except pasta and simmer for 1 hour.

About 50 minutes into simmer time cook the pasta in 1-1/2 - 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or just until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough. Drain.

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

Though I despise beans, I think the rest of this sounds WONDERFUL and I'll be making a big pot tomorrow, THANK YOU! :)

It's a great recipe. I'm a horrible cook and I can do it. I make my Wendy's Chili without beans or meat and it's great. It's easy and crock-potable. ;o)

Don't taste test it until a couple of hours have gone by, it's not good until the flavors blend.

Hey, thought we couldn't have pasta with lap band??? What's the deal with no lettuce either?

I don't do pasta but can have this soup. I don't do lettuce, there are no nutrients and it fills me up to quickly. ~Mandy

Everyone is different. Some can have pasta and some can't. Personally, I can't. But I still put recipes up thinking if others can do them then great.

I'd be afraid to try lettuce. Some people can eat iceburg but that's the only type. With that thinking I'd assume those same people could probably do parts of Red Leaf lettuce too.

Thanks for the info! Can anyone help me with putting my weight tickler on my profile. I'm new at this too. :)

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html

Just out of curiosity... Are lapbanders NOT allowed to have lettice? if not, why not?

You can have lettuce if it works for you. I can do the hard crunchy parts of lettuce but the green leafy parts such as spinich get stuck. Some people are anti-lettuce completely and totally because nutritional values aren't great. But I think that is the beauty of the band, you eat what you want in smaller quantities.

I LOVE salads! My dog and I split salads all the time, I give her all the stuff I don't think will work for me and we are both happy.

OMG! This reminds me of my very first fill... over six years ago. I was with a seasoned Bandster and we went out after for lunch. We went to Olive Garden and they blended the pasta e fabioli soup for me... and I thought it was incredible. Up until that point, I had been on liquids and mushies so this was a treat. :)

Bubble, I am so not into cooking! I am very impressed that you made soup!

Can't wait to make it... THANK YOU!!!!!

Ooooh...think Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana's okay to eat anytime soon? I'm starting mushies on Monday...

This would be WONDERFUL if I could. I love that stuff...