John's Pasta And Beans
Pasta e Fagiole All' Giovani
Serves 4-6

This recipe is my "poppie's" who was Sicilian. Pop loved fried onions and black
pepper, as this recipe calls for, and since he always did things in his own
stubborn, Sicilian way, he always cooked this dish himself. That way, it always
tasted just right.

1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1, 16 ounce can pork and beans in tomato sauce - NOT the candied type with brown
sugar!
salt and black pepper
1 pound mezzi-tubatini or ditalini pasta
Optional: 2 tablespoons chopped calamita olives

1 pasta pot
1 large saucepan
1 long handled wooden spoon

Freshly grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion
and saute until soft and beginning to brown. Add the garlic.
Stir the beans into the olive oil, onion and garlic. Season with salt
and a generous amount of black pepper. If using, stir in the chopped olives.
In the meantime, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook
pasta until al dente. Drain pasta and return it to the cooking pot.
Pour the onions and beans over the pasta and mix them together.
Serve hot in warmed bowls with freshly grated cheese and black pepper.