I forgot to add my father used salt pork in his as well.

Mine used tomato paste garlic onion and beans and always ditalini. My Italian friend makes it more like Pasqualle. Every region of Italy has there version. I hope to visit Italy before I die to see my grandparents roots to go eat true Italian cooking. In the USA its been americanized. So many ( supposed Italian things) ARE NOT how the Italians eat its the way Americans have made the recipes evolve in the USA, example Italian herbs? Spaghetti and meatballs and Alfredo and carbonara. All different here than in Italy. . Watth The Pasinis and PASTA Grammer, Vincenzo plate on u tube and like pasqualle they cook true Italian food ! ! ! ! !

My Nonny told me if was peasant food no meat cuz Italy was a poor nation before ww2. Most had small d Farms and council grow beans and have eggs and would sell what they could to buy flour unless they grew their own. They woukd grom theirs and take it to a public mill to have it ground or grind it themselves. A much different world in the USA and many Europe countries like Italy before WW2.

Arrivederci; don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out!