ITALIAN WHITE BEAN AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add onion and celery; cook, stirring, until celery is tender,5 to 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
• Add beans, water, broth, pepper, and thyme; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
• Roll up several spinach leaves together, cigar fashion, and thinly slice. Repeat with remaining spinach.
• With slotted spoon, remove 2 cups beans from soup mixture and reserve.
• Spoon one-fourth of mixture into blender; cover, with center part of cover removed to let steam escape, and puree until smooth.
• Pour into bowl.
• Repeat with remaining mixture.
• Return puree and reserved beans to saucepan; heat to.
• boiling over medium-high heat.
• Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.