White Bean and Escarole Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried white beans

• 1 lb chopped and cleaned escarole 

• 1 large white onion, peeled and diced 

• 3 stalks celery, cleaned and roughly chopped

• 7 cloves garlic, 3 cloves left whole, 4 cloves peeled and minced

• 2 tbs roughly chopped Rosemary leaves

• 1 large leek, cleaned and chopped into 4" chunks 

• 3 bay leaves 

• 1/2 lb bacon or Italian sausage, optional 

• 4 Tbsp olive oil 

• 1/4 lb parmesan cheese 

• Salt and Pepper to taste 

• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)