venetian-style bean and pasta soup

Author Notes: from gourmet magazine (recipe available on epicurious). i would serve it with cheese from the 3-for-14-dollar bin at the atwater market here in montreal, accompanied by no-knead bread from mark bittman at the new york times. cheap, delicious, serves 6. dessert? fancy belgian cookies on sale at supermarket and maybe some sorbet. can't take credit for recipes, just for the idea! - kikimama

Serves 6

• This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Dirt Cheap Dinner