Soup: Italian Tortellini Soup

From Mary Carey

Ingredients
1 lb sweet Italian sausage (can use the hot Italian sausage / brats)
1 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
5 cups beef stock
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
10-12 ounce bag frozen or refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
1 large zucchini, peeled and sliced
16 ounce can chopped tomatoes
8 ounce can tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons dried basil
2 Tablespoons dried oregano

Directions
Remove sausage from casings. Brown sausage w/ onion and garlic. Drain. Add beef stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce and spices; bring to low boil. Add carrots; simmer 10-15 minutes. Add tortellini and zucchini; cooking until tortellini is tender, 15-20 minutes. Ladle into soup bowls and top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Note: You may want to add extra beef stock and / or chopped tomatoes because it gets very thick. Serves 8-10.