Pasta e Fagioli

This dish was one of the presentation dishes at a Thermomix demonstration I attended recently.  It was definitely my kind of dish - sort of like a minestrone - but not really.  All the comfort elements though - pasta, beans, cheese, and hint of chilli and tomato.  You could also make it more soupy or pasta"y" depending on your mood.

One of the beautiful things I love about life with Thermie is that if I am not in the mood to cook - simple dishes like this are a breeze.  Simply add the ingredients and sit down to watch the news!  Can't get much better than that can you?

Last night even though I am eating alone again - (sent "The Darlings" and Mr. CCC on a little vacation without me - and am I loving the peace and quiet????  What do you think????   Unfortunately though all good things must come to an end - and they are due back early tomorrow morning)  So even though this meal makes enough for 4-6 I thought why not whip up a potful and have some leftovers for another night.

Pasta e Fagioli
Adapted from Thermomix EDC Cookbook

Serves 4-6

100g parmesan cheese, cubed (to serve if desired?!)
1-2 red chillies (to taste)
1-2 cloves garlic
1 onion
50g olive oil
1 celery stalk, roughly chopped, including leaves
2 cans cannellini beans, drained
2-3 fresh tomatoes (depending on size)
2 tbs TM concentrated vegetable stock
900g water
300g macaroni pasta
wild rocket to serve

Place the parmesan cheese into the TM bowl and grate for 10 seconds on speed 9.  Set aside.

Place the chilli, garlic and onion into the TM bowl and chop for 3 seconds on speed 7.

Scrape from the sides of the bowl using a spatula.

Add the olive oil and saute for 2 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1.

Add the celery, 1 can of the beans, the tomatoes and the stock, then pulverise for 15 seconds on speed 6.

Add the water and cook for 10 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1.

Add the pasta and the remaining can of beans and cook for 10 minutes at 100 degrees on reverse and soft speed.

While the pasta is cooking heat your Thermoserver by filling with boiling water, allow to sie for 10 minutes while the final stages of cooking are happening.  Remove water and wipe dry.

Place the wild rocket in the base of the Thermoserver.  Top with the cooked pasta mixture and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.  Stir the rocket through the pasta, and season with freshly ground black pepper.

Serve the pasta in a bowl, topped with the reserved grated parmesan cheese.

Pure comfort food in a bowl!!!  Yummmmm!  Might just have the leftovers tonight!!!

Now don't be daunted by the fact that this was made in the Thermomix - this can just as "easily" (well perhaps not!!) be made using conventional methods - and of course replacing the TM stock concentrate with liquid chicken stock.  Chop by hand, and boil - you know the drill!!!

So what have I been doing with all my spare time with "The Darlings" away you may ask?  Today I spent the day in the kitchen - made some yummy pull apart hot cross buns/bread - and then "precious" and I experimented and had our very first go at making macarons!!!!  Were they a success you ask - well you will just have to wait and see - we were a little adventurous - we made Fruit Tingle Fizz Macarons!!!!  Stay tuned...........

This is what is known as a teaser!!!

You will have to come back again to find out about these!!!!!