Pasta and Beans: Pasta e Fagioli with cheese

INGREDIENTS :

2 tablespoons (2 turns around the pan) extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 pound (about 3 slices) pancetta, chopped

Two 4 to 6-inch sprigs rosemary, left intact

One 4 to 6-inch sprig thyme with several sprigs on it, left intact

1 large fresh bay leaf or 2 dried bay leaves

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 small carrot, finely chopped

1 rib celery, finely chopped

4 large cloves garlic, chopped

Coarse salt and pepper

Two 15-ounce cans cannellini beans

1 cup canned tomato sauce or canned crushed tomatoes

2 cups water

1 quart chicken stock

1 1/2 cups ditalini

Grated Parmigiano or Romano, for the table

Crusty bread, for mopping

METHODS :

1. Heat a deep pot over medium high heat and add oil and pancetta. Brown the pancetta bits lightly, and add herb stems, bay leaf, chopped vegetables, and garlic. 
2. Season vegetables with salt and pepper. Add beans, tomato sauce, water, and stock to pot and raise heat to high. 
3. Bring soup to a rapid boil and add pasta. 
4. Reduce heat to medium and cook soup, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente. 
5. Rosemary and thyme leaves will separate from stems as soup cooks. 
6. Remove herb stems and bay leaf from soup and place pot on table on a trivet. 
7. Let soup rest and begin to cool for a few minutes. 
8. Ladle soup into bowls and top with lots of grated cheese. 
9. Pass crusty bread for bowl mopping.