Pasta e Fagioli in a Package

1 pkg. of Cherchies Pasta e Fagioli soup mix

7 cups water

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, diced

1 medium onion, chopped

1 lb. hamburger meat (the original instructions did not ask for meat, I decided to add it myself)

1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

I bought the soup mix and these rosemary rolls from our trip to Wegmans in N. Va.  I'm so excited, I can't wait to try this!!

Rinse beans thoroughly in cold water.  Put beans in a large pot adding enough water to cover by 2 inches.  Bring to a boil, cooking for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

As beans are standing, sauté garlic and onion in olive oil

Drain and rinse beans.

To the onions and garlic, add the meat and brown, drain fat.   Add 7 cups water

Add seasoning packet

then add the beans, stir and simmer for about 45 minutes.  Add pasta and simmer another 25 minutes.

Add the can of diced tomatoes, heat thoroughly.

Serve hot, on a cold wintry day

Sprinkle with cheese.  I didn't have Parmesan so I ended up using some Mozzarella which works just as good.

Buon appetit!!

I rarely ever make any thing from a prepared mix.  I try to make everything homemade but when I saw this soup mix on our recent trip to Wegmans in N. Va., (see my post entry titled, "A Trip Into Town") I caved and bought it.  It did not disappoint!  WOW! This was so savory and full of flavors.  Not as tomato-eee as mine but that's fine, it was deeelicious!!  Adding the meat I'm sure helped a lot.  I'm surprised the package didn't suggest that meat could be added, my hubby would not have liked it otherwise.  The meat not only gave it flavor but hearty thickness and what hubby does not like a hearty soup?!  Happy New Year bloggy nation.  Be safe and be blessed!