Soul Food

***You can also see this recipe on Lidia Bastianich's website!***

I think that term has different meanings for different people.  We all know the type of food commonly referred to by it (which I absolutely love!) but to me, soul food is food that warms my insides...food that brings me back to a happy place...food that evokes memories.

My mom has been making Pasta e Fagioli for as long as I can remember.  I remember my Nana's version of it too.  It takes me back whenever I eat it, and no one else's even comes close.

It's a shame my husband hates beans...but it doesn't stop me from making a vat once in a while.  That's what friends (and family) are for.  Come on over!

Here's my Mom's recipe - exactly the way she wrote it to me a long time ago.

Pasta E Fagioli
from Mom :)


1 bag (one pound) dry cannellini beans
1 cup prepared marinara sauce (here's my recipe)
2 smoked ham hocks
2 cups cooked (al dente) pasta of your choice...mine is broken spaghetti and ditalini
6 garlic cloves
Hot pepper flakes (to taste)....a couple of shakes
Oregano...again a couple of shakes
1 to 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil.....just for flavor

Cover dry beans with water a couple of inches over the beans.  bring to a boil...shut fire... let stand for at least one hour to soften....throw water out...fill pot with fresh water (again a couple of inches over the beans)....add ham hocks, garlic cloves and oregano...let cook for 45 min...add tomato sauce, hot pepper flakes....cook for another half hr or until beans are tender...add cooked pasta and let sit for a few minutes for the flavors to blend...drizzle with olive oil before serving...enjoy!