Bacon & Gnocchi Soup with Creamy Herbed Broth

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped onion (½ onion)
• 1/3 cup chopped celery (1 rib)
• 1 cup chopped carrots (2 carrots)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tb butter
• 2 Tb flour
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 sage leaves, whole
• Pinch red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
• 4 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 6 strips Fletcher's bacon, cooked & crumbled, with 1 Tb. bacon grease reserved
• 2 cups kale, chopped (2 leaves, ribs removed)
• 1 lb. gnocchi
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese + more for serving/garnish
• 2 c. milk
• 1 chicken bouillon cube or equivalent substitute (optional)