Herbed Bacon and White Bean Soup

Are you a Top Chef fan?  Have you noticed how when a chef has either kinda crappy ingredients, not a lot of time, or is just a little stumped on what to make, they'll make soup?  Soup is great for those situations.  Maybe you don't have anything fresh, maybe you don't have much time or you don't want to dirty a bunch of pots and pans.  Make the soup, let it sit for a few hours on or off the heat, and you're dunzo.  This soup is a great example of that.  On another note, if you do like Top Chef, how do you feel about Padma?  I hate her.  I don't often say I hate someone, and it's really not a habit of mine to throw that word around, but I hate her.  She's awful, and makes my stomach turn.  She practically ruins the show for me, and often does.  Two weeks ago, the rodeo episode, when she rode in on a horse, I think I gagged audibly.  She is just the worst.  Sorry, moving on.

Herbed Bacon and White Bean Soup
4 or 5 strips of bacon (I used turkey but use whatever you prefer)
1 can rinsed and drained white beans/cannellini beans
1 carton of low sodium chicken broth
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
3 large carrots, chopped
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
3/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried sage
salt and pepper

Heat up your pot with just a touch of oil, and once it's hot, add chopped bacon.  Cook until starting to crisp up, stirring frequently.  Add your onion, pinch of salt, and cook for another few minutes or until onion is starting to brown.  Then add garlic, celery, carrot, bay leaf, sage, rosemary, and another pinch of salt, and some pepper.  Cook for about 7 minutes or so, until veggies are softening.  Then throw in your beans, and cover with chicken broth.  Cook for 45 minutes.  The longer you let it sit, the better it will be.  If desired, use immersion blender to make a creamy soup!  Yum!