Sausage, Tortellini and White Bean Soup

This soup was a huge hit at the Christmas party last night.

4 Tablespoons olive oil
5 Links Sweet Italian Sausage, cooked according to package directions and thinly sliced
2 Cups chopped onions
1 Fennel bulb, chopped (use 1tsp fennel seeds as a substitute)
4-6 Garlic cloves, chopped
2 Teaspoons dried thyme
64 ounces chicken broth
1 16-ounce package frozen cheese tortellini
1 15-ounce can white kidney beans (cannellini), rinsed and drained
6-10 ounces frozen spinach (fresh would be ok too I guess, but I've never tried it) 
Salt and Pepper

***PLEASE use a cruelty-free sausage. I've discovered that Whole Foods Market has some of the best Animal Welfare standards in the grocery-chain business.***



-Heat oil in a large heavy soup pot over medium-low heat. Add sausage, onions, fennel, garlic and thyme. Cook for a couple minutes to soften the onions and to blend the flavors.

-Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.

-Add tortellini and beans. Return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes.

-Add spinach and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat, or until tender.

-Season to taste with salt and pepper.

***A WORD OF WARNING.  The tortellini tends to get soggy and soak up a LOT of the broth.  If you plan on having this soup over a few days, only add the tortellini as needed.