Pasta Fagioli Soup

Pasta Fagioli Soup

Original recipe can be found here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Pasta-Fagioli-Soup

I modified the recipe for a crock pot below...

5 ServingsPrep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Italian chicken or turkey sausage, bulk
1 small onion, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1 garlic clove, minced
*1 tsp red pepper flakes (I added this because sausage was mild)
2 cups water
1 can (15-1/2 ounces) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (I used tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano)
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup fresh spinach leaves, cut into strips
5 teaspoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large saucepan, cook sausage, onion, and red pepper flakes over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer.

In crock pot, add cooked sausage, onion and garlic, water, beans, tomatoes, broth, and pepper.  Turn on low for 5 hours, or high for a couple hours.  The last 30 min, add your spinach.

In small pot, cook macaroni as directed.  Add to serving bowls and ladle hot soup over top.  I do this because I hate when the pasta soaks up the broth in the fridge... your leftover soup turns into mush with giant macaroni.

Garnish with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 5 servings.