Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup

 Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 carrots, diced
• 4 celery stalks, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans beef broth
• 2 whole bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked

Directions:

1. Add olive oil to skillet and brown ground beef.
2. Place beef in slow cooker with remaining ingredients, except beans and pasta.
3. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. 30 minutes before serving add beans and pasta.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Discard bay leaves.

Recipe from the kitchen of Barb Kasen.