Recipe: Easy Green Minestrone

Name: Recipe: Easy Green Minestrone
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 3 whole celery stalks, diced; 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (1/2 teaspoon dry); 1 bay leaf; 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth; 1 pound waxy red potatoes (4 to 5 small potatoes), cut into bite-sized pieces; 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces; 1 pound small-shaped pasta, like shells or elbow macaroni; 6 ounces greens, like spinach, kale, or chard, cut into ribbons; 1 (15-ounce) can white beans, like Great Northern or cannellini, drained and rinsed; Salt and pepper to taste; Grated Parmesan cheese, optional, to serve