Ingredients

• 1 pound white cannellini beans
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic, unshelled
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt to taste
• ½ pound small diameter macaroni
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions

Put washed beans in salted water (three parts water to one part beans). Soak beans overnight or bring to boil, boiling for two minutes, and let stand, covered for 1 hour. Do not drain beans but bring to a boil. Skim off foam and add oil, garlic, bay leaf and salt to taste.  Simmer beans until tender, roughly 2 hours. 

Cook the pasta in 2 pounds of unsalted water until al dente, drain but save 1-2 cups of water. Stir pasta and crushed red pepper into beans and simmer until pasta is fork tender. Add saved pasta water as needed to thin soup. 

Alternatively: Simmer smoked ham hock, chopped ham or bacon or soup bone with beans for added depth and flavor. Add salt with caution as the pork will add salt to the dish naturally.