Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup

Thank you Penny for this delicious recipe (and for shopping for the ingredients for me)!  This definitely serves 12 hungry people so we will be eating it for a few days which I am very happy about.

2 lbs mild/hot italian sausage

3 carrots

1 onion

4 cloves garlic

3 quarts chicken broth

2- 14 ounce cans diced tomatoes

2 - 15 ounce cans Cannellini beans

1 T. dried basil

2 cups dried pasta shells or similar shape

About 12 ounces fresh spinach

salt and pepper

1 cup parmesan cheese-to serve sprinkled on top

Brown crumbled sausage until well-browned.  Drain thoroughly.  Add finely chopped carrots, onion, garlic and saute for 5-7 minutes.  Add broth, tomatoes, beans and basil, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.  Simmer (or turn off) until about 15 minutes before you are ready to serve. Then return to a boil and add pasta and spinach.  Cook until pasta is tender.  Adjust salt and pepper.  Top individual bowls with grated parmesan cheese.