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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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September 20, 2011

Knockin off the OG…Olive Garden that is!

A Post from the Past…

pasta e fagioli 1

Knock off.

A popular word in a DIYer’s vocabulary. We LOVE to knock stuff off..mainly from stores with  initials like P.B. and R.H and occasionally B.D. and C.B.  I also can’t say the words “knock-off” without thinking of shows like the Sopranos or The Godfather…

“Hey, Jimmy youz wanna me knock him off for ya..”


Cricket. Cricket…um yeah, my brains a scary place.


But I promise this is a soup you will want to knock off and I mean in the best sense of the words…Today I want to share a favorite knock off of mine.



It’s one of my favorite soups from Olive Garden…Pasta e Fagioli.  I was bound and determined to figure out a way to copycat this recipe at home, in large quantities…so I could have my own endless bowl of soup and not have to leave my couch.  I struck gold..er or I guess pasta..when I found this recipe years ago.  I wish I could give credit, where credit is due but in all honesty I have had the recipe for so long I don’t even remember where I found it.  So, let’s just say whoever came up with this one was inspired by Olive Garden, and we’ll give them the credit. Cause ya know Olive Garden needs more publicity…heh.

pasta e fagioli 2

 This recipe not only tastes like OG’s pasta e fagioli, but it gets lots of brownie points for being a slow cooker recipe too!  How about them apples or should I say, “How about them ditalis??” (That’s the little pasta that goes in pasta e fagioli in case you were wondering…)
If you’ve been looking for a hearty frugal fall soup recipe, give this one a try.  Start it in the morning, enjoy your day and it will be waiting for you when you get home..and it will make your house smell great too!  What more could you ask for from a soup?!

{Print Recipe}
Pasta e Fagioli–inspired by Olive Garden

Ingredients:
1 lb. very lean ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup julienned carrot
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 14.5 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can regular tomato sauce
1 12 oz. can of regular V-8 juice
1 15 oz. can red kidney beans (do not drain)
1 15 oz. can great northern beans (do not drain)
1 Tbs. white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 lb ditali pasta (this is half of a box)

Directions:

Prepare all of your vegetables.
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Drain off any fat.  Transfer meat to slow cooker.
Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
Cook pasta according to directions just until al-dente.  DO NOT OVERCOOK.  You want them to be slightly tough still.  Drain but do not rinse.  Add drained pasta to slow cooker.  Cook for another 20-30 minutes.

Serve with a good crusty bread, a glass of wine and enjoy feelin’ a little gangster eating your Olive Garden knock off!

pasta e fagioli 3
Thanks for joining me…and my mafia alter ego…at the picket fence!
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This post is partying at:

Project Queen: I Turned The Daunting Into The Doable Tuesdays
E’Kat’s Kitchen: Friday Potluck

26 Comments Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes, Soups

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Comments

  1. NanaDiana says

    September 20, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    I love a good knock off! This is funny because I was thinkng about posting my Zuppa Toscana (potato soup) Olive Garden knock off today! I think I will save mine for a day or two now…and it is NOT a crock pot recipe which is what I really like about the one YOU posted here. Sounds delish! xo Diana

    Reply
  2. Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio says

    September 20, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can not wait to try it. That is my absolutely favorite thing to eat out. I have tried several, but this looks like it might be the real thing. Also, anything I can make in the crockpot is a winner.
    Love your “knock off” humor.

    Reply
  3. Kelly says

    September 20, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    That looks so good! I haven’t been to the Olive Garden in years since we don’t have one close to us. But, if it’s a “knock-off” from them, then I KNOW it’s delicious. May give this one a try.

    Reply
  4. Ange says

    September 20, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Oh it’s hard to type with drool on the keyboard….that looks so delicious right now when it’s 4:30 and we are having leftovers for dinner. Can’t wait to make this, thanks!

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    September 20, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    The next Friday night that I have my whole brood home, we are definitely having this. I’m writing myself a note. This would be a huge pleaser here.

    Reply
  6. Judy says

    September 20, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Yum…that looks really good. Perfect meal now that the weather is getting more Fall-like.

    Reply
  7. Robin says

    September 21, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    My hubby will love you forever. I can’t wait to make this for him. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  8. Shannon @ Cozy Home Scenes says

    September 21, 2011 at 12:48 AM

    Ooooo that looks delicious, colorful and hearty-my kind of family meal! I also like that it’s cooked in a crock pot. Thanks. Shannon

    Reply
  9. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    September 21, 2011 at 1:27 AM

    OMG Heather! This is my all time favorite thing at the Olive Garden. I LOVE going there for lunch and getting the endless soup, salad and breadsticks. Do they still do that? Now that I say that, I’m realizing I haven’t been there for a couple years. Wow.

    Anyway I have this recipe too, but it has the ingredient quantities from the restaurant. Way too much. I will be making yours soon! Thanks soo much for sharing!

    ~ Catie

    Reply
  10. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    September 21, 2011 at 3:15 AM

    Hey, Heather! I just bought the ingredients to knock off OG’s Chicken Gnocchi soup! But this one looks delicious as well. I’m all for new slow cooker recipes. Thanks for sharing this with us!

    Reply
  11. Cindy says

    September 21, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    Hi Heather,
    Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing!!! And it’s just in time for the cool season too, I am craving warm comfort foods.
    Thanks so much for that, I am going to get the ingredients and make it.
    Hugs, Cindy

    Reply
  12. Shannon says

    September 21, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Oh my goodness…this soup looks awesome and delightfully delicious especially with fall starting on Friday and football Sundays! I am definetly going to try this one! Thanks for sharing sisters! I love your blog!

    Reply
  13. michelle says

    September 21, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    Oh my gosh I am happy dancing now!!!! I LOVE this soup and now I can make it at home!! Thank you so much for sharing this Heather!! I am going to be making this this weekend i hope!!!
    xoxox

    Reply
  14. Sweet Floweret says

    September 28, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    It’s in my crockpot now and I shared the link on my Sweet Floweret Facebook page.
    Thanks so much!
    Tina
    http://www.sweetfloweret.com

    Reply
  15. Rayanne says

    October 6, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    I’ve come by way of Michelle, she left a lovely post about your blog and your soup recipe!!I had to stop by and get that recipe….yummy!!
    So glad to have found your blog!!

    Reply
  16. Ryan says

    October 7, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    Found your blog through my friend Michelle at Emerald Cove. Awesome that soup looks amazing!

    Ryan

    Reply
  17. Rose West says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    This recipe looked so good, I had to try it. Last night, I made it for Bible Study, and it was so good! I will definitely be making this again. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  18. April Brown says

    December 25, 2011 at 12:53 AM

    I came across your recipe from Pinterest. I use to work at the Olive Garden and the unlimited soup, salad and breaksticks were my favourite. Even 17 years later, I still choose to order them.
    I made this for our Christmas Eve dinner and it was DELICIOUS. Tastes just like we were there.
    I had a hard time finding Northern Beans at my grocery store but found them in a bag. When I make it next year, I will soak the beans over night rather than do the quick cook method. They were a little hard but will soften up the next time we eat it.
    I did focaccia bread instead of breadsticks.
    Thank you
    Merry Christmas
    Ms. Brown’s Grade 2 Class

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    September 8, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    I did this one… And it is so easy and great…. Thanks

    Reply
  20. DesignedByBH says

    August 30, 2013 at 7:26 AM

    This looks so good, ladies! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Kathy Hutton says

    October 28, 2013 at 8:11 AM

    My Favorite OG knock off is: Olive Garden Copycat Zuppa Toscana
    https://www.food.com/recipe/olive-garden-copycat-zuppa-toscana-38298

    Reply
  22. julia says

    February 25, 2014 at 6:56 PM

    I couldnt find anywhere about how many does this feed? Plz help

    Reply
  23. Jody says

    September 2, 2014 at 8:45 AM

    I would love to post this recipe to my pinterest board. I do not see a pinterest symbol except for all your boards. Is there anyway that I can post it to my board? Thank you so much for posting this wonderful recipe

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 2, 2014 at 2:17 PM

      Hi Jody, if you look towards the bottom of the post there is a graphic that says, “Share the love” if you click the pinterest button it should pin to your board. 🙂 This is an older post that was written before Pinterest so we don’t have a pin it button added to it, but we’ll get that in! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply

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  2. A long winter calls for Smoked Salmon Chowder - At The Picket Fence says:
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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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