great-aunt lillian's minestrone soup

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 cup zucchini, diced
• 1 cup italian green beans
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth if making a vegetarian version
• 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can white beans, drained
• 1 can garbanzo beans, drained
• 3 cans tomatoes, diced
• 3/4 cup carrots, shredded
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme, dried
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups hot water
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 3/4 cup small shell macaroni
• - parmigiano-reggiano, grated, for topping