Winter White Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups carrots, rinsed, peeled and sliced to 1/4-inch thickness
• 1 1/2 cups sweet onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups celery, rinsed and sliced to 1/4-inch thickness
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped finely
• 4 cups prepared vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves and stems
• 1 bay leaf
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 15-ounce cans cannellini or Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and dried