Creamy Corn Soup with Crispy Bacon

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced celery
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fat-free milk
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 can reduced-sodium chicken broth (14.5 ounces)
• 2 cups frozen whole kernel corn (thawed)
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed)
• 4 slices lower-sodium, less fat bacon (crisp-cooked and crumbled (optional))