Grandma Falco’s 95! Celebrate w/ Pasta Fazool (Fagioli)

Birthday’s are all around this week. Today, Grandmom Falco turned 95 and tomorrow, Andy will be… celebrating his birthday too!

We had a great party for Grandmom on Sunday.  All the children, grand children, and great grand children, and great great grand children.  That is a lot of generations.  We had lots of fun and were so happy to be with her. Even Santa himself made an appearance to say “happy birthday” to this special lady!  She was still eager to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.  Knowing Grandmom, I‘d bet she said, “a man”. I hope it becomes a tradition that we keep of getting together before Christmas.  There was a whole lot of laughter and a whole lot of love in that room.  I can’t think of a better way to start the holiday season.

In honor of Grandmom’s birthday, I thought I would make one of her classic recipes. Pasta Fagioli Fazool.  You see, growing up Italian, you never went hungry.  Neither did anyone else who could walk in the door.  Italian women knew how to make hearty “peasant dishes”.  No meat required.  No defrosting, so on a moments notice, if you had guests, you could always put a meal together.  I doubt there was an Italian pantry that did not have canned tomatoes, beans, onions, garlic, dried herbs and macaroni.  This dish takes no time to make and is delicious and naturally vegan.

Pasta Fagioli Fazool

Pasta Fagoli
Ingredients:
 1 can white kidney beans
 3 tbsp. olive oil
 1/2 onion chopped
 1 can 14oz. tomato puree
 1 box wheat elbow macaroni
Directions:
Combine beans, oil, onion and puree in saucepan. Sauté for 10 minutes. In a separate pot, boil pasta until cooked. Drain pasta, add pasta to the bean and sauce mixture, stir to combine. Cook on low another 3 or 4 minutes. Sprinkle hot pepper flakes on top and stir. Turn off heat and serve!