Pasta E Fagioli and a Give-Away

Two reasons for posting this recipe today. It is one of my favorite soups and it ties in with my wonderful giveaway. More about that in a minute. This is not the Pasta E Fagioli that you normally see. This recipe is over 2000 years old, from a cook book I've used since 1969, Papa Rossi's Secrets of Italian Cooking by Victor Bennett with Antonia Rossi

You are going to say, "too much olive oil". The oil will be completely absorbed and a delicate flavor the result. You will think it needs more spices. Not so. It is perfect the way it is.

Did I mention how frugal a dish this is! Or did I mention I'm linking to Miz Helen's Country Cottagetoday as well as to Tastetastic Thursday at A Little Nosh, Frugal Follies, Thrify Thursday, Vintage Recipe Thursdays, The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap, and Food on Fridays

Pasta E. Fagioli
6-8 servings
print recipe

1 pound white dried beans, soaked in water to cover (don't used canned)
Salt
1 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, unpeeled
1 large Italian bay leaf
1/2 pound salad macaroni
1 teaspoon coarsely ground hot red pepper
Few sprigs parsley
Grated Parmesan cheese

Cook beans in water in which they were soaked. Salt to taste, bring to slow boil, skim foam, add oil, garlic and bay leaf. Cook beans gently until tender, approximately 2 hours. The oil will be completely absorbed and a delicate flavor is the result. Remove the garlic and bay leaf.

Cook the macaroni, drain and reserve 1 cup of liquid. Add pasta to the beans, with the reserved liquid and the hot pepper, and simmer until thick.

Garnish with parsley and grated cheese before serving.

Now for the giveaway: My niece Angie, who blogs at The Jammie Girl, has written an ebook. It just came out a week ago and it's called Tight Budget, Tiny Kitchen, and No Time: How to Eat Well in Your First Apartment. It's full of time-saving and frugal recipes plus tips, tutorials, and checklists. It's perfect for young people leaving home for the first time, but it's just as helpful for anyone who is downsizing or trying to live more frugally in these difficult economic times.

It's available in multiple formats at Smashwords and is getting great reviews already, but you can win a copy here! Just leave me a comment with your favorite frugal meal. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, October fifth and I'll pick one comment at random on Thursday, October sixth as the winner. Please make sure you have an email address linked to the account you use to comment (i.e. your Google account) or I won't be able to contact you to let you know you've won!