Minestrone with Fennel

Name: Minestrone with Fennel
Ingredients: 4 oz ditalini pasta ; uncooked; 1 tbsp olive oil; 6 cups chicken broth ; (I used the turkey broth I made from; 4 oz Canadian-style bacon ; diced; 2 cups onion ; finely diced; 1 cup celery ; finely diced; 1 cup carrot ; finely chopped; 1 tbsp thyme ; finely chopped; 1 tbsp fennel seed ; ground; 6 cloves Garlic ; sliced; 14 oz canned cannellini beans; 14 oz canned diced tomatoes; 4 cups zucchini ; small diced; 1 cup potatoes ; small diced; 4 tsp black pepper; 1 tsp table salt ; to taste