Great Kielbasa Northern Bean Soup

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add kielbasa; sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add carrots, onion, garlic, and kielbasa to saucepan; sauté an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium; cook 5 minutes. Add 4 cups of stock, Italian seasoning, pepper, and beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes. I cook the soup longer than the original recipe so an extra cup of stock/broth or even water isn't a terrible idea if the soup is starting to look thicker than it should. Place 2 cups of the soup in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Return the pureed mixture to pan. Simmer an additional 25 minutes. Remove soup from heat. Parmesan can be added as topping or mixed into the soup as it cools. If you like a spicy soup add 1/4 teaspoon of Dave's Insanity sauce during the final 25 minutes of simmering, it'll give the soup a big kick.