Hearty Sausage Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

• 6 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
• 3 Italian hot sausage links (12 ounces), casings removed
• 1/2 white or yellow onion, minced
• 1/2 cup carrots, minced
• 1 celery stalk, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced small
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 14-ounce box chopped/diced tomatoes
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 pound ditalini pasta
• 2 cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 2 tablespoons prepared pesto
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
• Parmesan cheese, for garnish
• Cracked black pepper, for garnish