Hearty White Bean Bacon Soup

Ingredients

• 4 thick-cut or 6 regular bacon slices, chopped small
• 1 medium onion, diced finely
• 2 celery stalks, sliced up
• 3 big carrots, peeled and cut
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp parsley, dried
• 1 tsp oregano, dried
• 1 tsp thyme, dried
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
• 2 cans (19 oz each) cannellini beans
• 5 cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 1/4 cup Parmesan, freshly grated
• 3/4 cup half & half
• Optional: spinach or chopped parsley for topping