GOOSEBERRY PATCH: Cheese & Spinach Tortellini Soup

I have completed my first yummy recipe for the Gooseberry patch give away. Cheese and Spinach Tortellini Soup is not only healthy, but it is seriously DELISH! Here is the recipe:
2 T olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T fresh thime, chopped
1/4 t red pepper flakes
6 c chicken broth
8 oz pkg refrigerated chees tortellini
9 oz pkg spinach
15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (my husband HATES beans, so we substituted canned diced tomatoes here and it was yummy)
1/2 c. grated Parmesan Cheese

The nice thing about this recipe is that most of this stuff is already in my refrigerator! So let's get started
Dice onion finely

Heat Oil in large soup pot over medium-hight heat
Add onion, garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes.
Cook until onion is soft, about 3 minutes.

Add Chicken Broth

Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
Stir in the tortellini

reduce heat to medium and simmer for 4 minutes
Add spinach and beans (ok...here is where I made my little change. Instead of adding the cannellini beans, I added a can of petite diced tomatoes. The whole can, didn't even drain them) Also, be sure you use FRESH spinach in the recipe

Simmer until spinach is wilted and tortellini is tender, about one minute should be plenty.
Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with cheese

I served this with one of my fabulous (well I think they are fabulous) salads (be looking for my toss salad hints soon) and enjoy, this low fat, flavorful fall meal!

Be sure to let me know what you think of my very first Gooseberry patch recipe and don't forget, there are nine more to come....and a give away!