Once we move and settle into the new place, I plan on cooking more than I do now (which isn't often as I like!).  I also want to start the New Years off right with some healthy eating (after the pizza I'm sure we'll consume while moving in).  I was ordering food the other day and I ordered Pasta E Fagioli and realized how expensive it was for it ($4.50)...still ordered it anyway, but while doing so I googled a recipe for it and this is what I found

Pasta E Fagioli - Healthy Olive Garden Knock-Off 

(Olive Garden is where I fell in love with this soup, so it's perfect!)

Minutes to Prepare: 10

Minutes to Cook: 60

Number of Servings: 10

Ingredients

1/2 lb ground beef
1 tsp olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 3/4 cup matchstick carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 cans diced tomatoes (no salt added)
1 cup canned Red Kidney Beans
1 cup canned White Kidney Beans
60 ounces Beef Broth (Lower Sodium version)
2 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley
1 tsp Tabasco sauce
1 jar of Classico Spicy Pesto Sauce
4 ounces dry Shell Macaroni or Rotini pasta

Directions

Brown the beef in a skillet, drain thoroughly, and empty onto a plate covered with paper towels to soak up the excess grease.

In a large sauce pot, heat 1 tsp olive oil and add onion, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Drain and rinse kidney beans and add to the pot.

Return the ground beef to the pot and add beef broth, oregano, pepper, parsley, Tabasco, spaghetti sauce, and noodles.

Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 minutes. Makes about 10 servings (about 2 cups per serving)

***Tip: If you have the time, this soup tastes even better if cooked for 2 to 3 hours at a very low simmer.***

Number of Servings: 10

	Nutrition Facts   Servings Per Recipe: 10   Serving Size: 1 serving Amount Per Serving   Calories 214.2   Total Fat 8.1 g       Saturated Fat 2.0 g       Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5 g       Monounsaturated Fat 2.4 g   Cholesterol 20.8 mg   Sodium 833.3 mg   Potassium 420.0 mg   Total Carbohydrate 24.3 g       Dietary Fiber 6.4 g       Sugars 4.1 g   Protein 12.3 g

Recipe found here

What's your favorite & inexpensive recipe?