Pasta e Fagioli

Olive Garden is famous for their soup, salad, and breadsticks lunches. My favorite is the pasta e fagioli and this recipe is almost exactly the same!

1 lb lean ground beef
1 c EACH diced carrot, onion, celery
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 can kidney beans, undrained
1 can great northern beans, undrained
2 15oz cans tomato sauce
1 can beef broth
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning
8 oz small pasta

In large soup pot, brown beef with carrots, onion, and celery. Drain. Add remaining ingredients except pasta. Simmer 30 minutes. Cook pasta al dente. Add to soup and simmer another 7-9 minutes.

Flank Steak with Confetti Salsa

You can never have too many grill recipes unless it's a cold wet summer like it's been here this year. I figure it'll be 85 in late October.

1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 glove garlic, minced
1 avocado, chopped
1 c diced fresh mango
2 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 c cilantro
salt and pepper
2.5 lb flank steak

Combine red pepper, onion, garlic, avocado, mango and lime juice in a small bowl. Add cilantro.

Rub steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill to desired doneness. Remove from grill and tent with foil for 10 minutes before slicing thin across the grain. Serve with salsa, rice, and chips.