Pasta e Fagioli

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound ground beef (try ground turkey)
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 large carrot, julienned (1 cup)
3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 15-ounce can red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 15-ounce can great northern beans (with liquid) - (try garbanzo beans)
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 12-ounce can V-8 juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 pound (1/2 pkg.) ditali pasta

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat. Drain off most of the fat. (turkey won't have much fat)
2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute for 10 minutes.
3. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 60 minutes.
4. About 50 minutes into the simmering, cook the pasta in 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes
or just until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough. Drain.
5. Add the pasta to the large pot of soup. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more and serve.
Total prep and cooking time is about 90 minutes

Serves 8.

Recipe found on: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/olive-garden-pasta-e-fagioli-recipe.html