Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, casings removed)
• 9 ounces shiitake mushrooms (or cremini or brown button mushrooms)
• 5 1/2 ounces cream cheese (I used Boursin)
• 2 carrots (grated)
• 1 can (400 g/14 oz) chickpeas (drained)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried sage
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp crushed chili pepper flakes (more for serving)
• 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 1/2 ounces short pasta noodles (I used vesuvio)
• fresh thyme (for serving (optional))