Winter and Soup Make Me Happy

I make good soup. I know that probably sounds braggy but it's true. I look forward to winter all year just so I can spend my weekends making and eating soup. Sometimes I follow existing recipes; sometimes I find recipes and tweak them more to my tastes; sometimes I make them up as I go along. Yesterday I made one up that was so good I had to name it and share it with everyone.

Italian Christmas Soup
(12+ servings)

2 pounds Italian seasoned ground Turkey or Italian sausage
1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14oz cans diced Italian seasoned tomatoes
1 14oz can crushed tomatoes
1 48oz carton low sodium chicken broth
5 medium carrots, thickly sliced
2 packages cut frozen spinach
1 large zucchini, quartered and thickly sliced
1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
2 Bay leaves
1 T dried basil
1 T dried thyme
2 T olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add garlic and sweat for 1 minute. Add onion, salt and pepper; cook until the onions are just translucent. Add meat brown. Turn heat down to low, add carrots, tomatoes, broth, basil, bay, and thyme. Cover and let simmer over low heat until carrots are tender (approximately 2.5 hours). Add spinach and zucchini, cook for 20 minutes. Add orzo and continue to cook until pasta is tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with a bit of shredded Parmesan cheese.