Americanized Pasta e Fagioli

Okay, so I love to cook. Actually, I don't know of too many things more relaxing than hovering over the stovetop, sipping a glass of my favorite wine, and listening to the Pure Jazz station on satellite radio. So when there is not much going on, or I just have nothing witty to say, I'll probably just post one of my favorite recipes. Today's recipe is "Americanized" Pasta e Fagioli. It's my favorite crockpot recipe. And, probably the only reason I own a crockpot in the first place; since this is the only recipe I use it for. It's healthy too! Great for one of those, oh...you know....ate-too-many-holiday-cookies-because-while-your-had-good-intentions-waited-too-long-to-deliver-them-to-your-neighbors-who-were-all-out-of-town-by-then-therefore-leaving-you-with-60-dozen-green-sprinkled-Christmas-tree-cookies-with-candied-cherries-on-top-staling-away-on-your-countertop-so-of-course-you-had-to-eat-them-ALL diets, and need to lose the 11 pounds you gained in 3weeks!! So, anyway, here it is:

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 can whole peeled tomatoes
1 15oz can cannellini beans, rinsed, drained
2 cups water
21oz low sodium beef broth
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp tabasco sauce
1 cup uncooked ditalini pasta
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients, except for the ground beef and the pasta, in the crockpot. You can cook it on high for 4 - 6 hours, or low for 8 - 10 hours, it really doesn't matter. About a half hour before it is done, brown the ground beef in a skillet and add to crockpot. About 10 minutes before it is done, add the uncooked pasta to the crockpot. That's all there is to it!