Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli (copy cat)

2010 January 25
by Bonnie @ Savoring Simplicity

Baby, it’s cold outside, and that means it’s time for comfort food. There’s nothing like soup to fit the bill. The Recipe Zaar had this copy cat recipe for Olive Garden’s famous and ever popular Pasta e Fagioli. Check them out for more interesting recipes.

SERVES 8

Ingredients

* 1 lb ground beef
* 1 cup diced onion
* 1 cup julienned carrot
* 3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
* 2 garlic cloves, minced

* 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes

* 1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans (with liquid)

* 1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans (with liquid)

* 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

* 1 (12 ounce) can v-8 vegetable juice
* 1 teaspoon vinegar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1 teaspoon oregano
* 1 teaspoon basil
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon thyme
* 1/2 lb ditali pasta

Directions

1. Brown beef in a large stock pot over medium heat-drain off fat.

2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute for 10 minutes.

3. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 1 hour.

4. After 50 minutes boil pasta to al dente.

5. Drain well.

6. Add pasta to the large pot of soup and simmer for 10 minutes.

7. (Weight Watchers Points for 1 Serving: 7).

White Christmas

2009 December 22
by Bonnie @ Savoring Simplicity

Yes, we’re having a white Christmas here! Woo! Hoo!

I made a big pot of chili, and we hunkered down and enjoyed the beauty.

My silly dog refused to come in out of the cold.

~

He sat there all night.We stayed cozy inside as the flakes piled up outside.

Can you find the red cardinal in this one?

Great Gift Wrapping Ideas

2009 December 15

Tie jump rope around kids’ gifts.

Wrap Wine Bottles With Dish Towels.

Use Newspaper and Maps to Wrap Boxes.

Secure Gift Bags With Ponytail Holders.

Turn Old Calendar Pages Into Gift Wrap.Real Simple

Kitchen Gifts Under $10

2009 December 12

Do you have someone on your Christmas list who’s starting out, someone who is in the beginning stages of filling a kitchen with all the essentials? Here are some suggestions for under $10.

Bamboo steamer – Perfect for vegetables, dumplings, bao, tamales … the list goes on. Choose a 10-inch steamer or a 6-inch set of 3 for $9.99 at World Market.

Measuring cupsThis 3-piece glass set is available for $9.99 at Target.

Stoneware gratin baker – Give the gift of beautifully served side dishes with this Red Oval Gratin Baker, $9.99 at World Market.

Rubber spatulas – We’ve been using these ENVIS spatulas from IKEA for about a year and love the nice heavy handles. The set of 2 is available for $4.99 at IKEA.

For more suggestions check out Apartment Therapy’s gift guide.

Epsom Salt Candle

2009 December 12

I love this simple-as-pie idea for Epsom salt candles from Melissa at The Inspired Room, and you can always find her in the sidebar under Design Inspiration.

Aren’t these pretty. Who isn’t always looking for an idea that’s beautiful, simple, and inexpensive? You could place them on your porch or along your sidewalk during a holiday party. Hop on over to The Inspired Room now to get the details.

Holiday Decorating Details

2009 December 12

Sometimes it really is in the details. Check out these decorating ideas.

A garland in a window counts the days till Christmas.

Wreath hung with striped ribbon

Dried fruit garland

Pomander Display

Rosmary plants styled as topiary, evergreen branches, and bold ornaments.

Mini trees in teacups

Red bag of seasonal greenery.

Use boxwood wreaths to decorate shelves.

Country Living

Jingle Bell Place Settings

2009 December 11

Simple, inexpensive and charming.Country Living

Vintage Christmas Ornaments

2009 December 9

vintage ornaments on an antique drying rack

Sadly, I have no remaining Christmas tree ornaments from my childhood, but I’ve tried to be careful about storing some of my son’s favorites from his childhood. Every year I wrap them in tissue paper and place them in a closet in part of the house that is climate controlled – never in a garage, basement or attic.

Fortunately, some of the ornaments from my husband’s childhood survived. Every year we place a few of them in an antique fruit compote that belonged to his mother. It may be my favorite decoration of the season. The compote is not especially large, and the ornaments are not particularly elaborate or of great value, but they’ve become a part of our tradition.

Here are some interesting ways to display your childhood ornaments.

~~~~~Country Living

Be sure to check out more holiday posts over at Melissa’s Inspired Room.

50 Best Loved Cookies

2009 December 9

Easy Christmas Wreaths

2009 December 8
by Bonnie @ Savoring Simplicity

Twelve wreaths you can make yourself!

I have to admit that I keep my decorating pretty simple by most standards. I used to do so much more. I still enjoy making the house beautiful, but I refuse to spend too much time on it. I have wreaths all over the place. They’re so easy. I just take them off of a hanger in the attic and hang them on a door, any door, every door. I’m a little nuts about wreaths. Here are 12 easy to make wreaths, but I’m not against just buying one – on sale, of course. There are so many beautiful ones available these days, but if you’re still in the mood to make one, you’ll find the link to the directions for these wreaths and more below.

Photos by Howard Lee Puckett

Adorned Fruit Wreath

Grapevine Wreath

Living Wreath

Nutcracker Wreath

Christmas Tree – Advent Wreath

Find directions for these wreaths and more at My Home Ideas.