Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup with Cheese Curds

Ingredients

• • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 parsnip, diced
  • 1 leek, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
  • 4 cups (1 litre) vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 can (19 oz/540 ml) white beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (14 oz/398 ml) diced tomatoes
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 thyme sprig
  • 6 cups (140 g) baby kale
  • 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 lb (225 g) cheese curds, roughly chopped
  • Slices of country bread (optional)