Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup

Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

1 T Olive Oil

1 lb. Italian sausage (or chicken, pork or turkey sausage)

4 large carrots, sliced about 1/4" thick on diagonal

1 large onion, chopped

3 large cloves of garlic, minced

1 large green pepper, diced into 1/2" pieces

2 small zucchini, sliced in half and then cut into half rounds

3 to 4 handfuls of baby spinach

1 t dried thyme

1 t dried basil

1 can (14.5 oz) stewed tomatoes

4 c beef stock

2 c water

1 bag frozen tortellini

2 T lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Remove casings from sausage and add sausage to pot. Allow to start to brown and then use a wooden spoon to "cut" them onto bite-sized chunks. Once sausage is fairly well browned, add onions and cook for 5 minutes or until soft, and then add garlic and cook for an additional 30seconds or so until fragrant. Add carrots, green pepper, zucchini, thyme, and basil, and saute for another minute or two. Add tomatoes, beef stock, and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simer for 30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

In a seperate pot, parboil tortellini for about 3 to 4 minutes; drain and add to soup, then simmer for another 15 to 30 minutes until tortellini are fully cooked. Just before serving, add the spinach, cover the pot, and let it cook for another minute or two. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in lemon juice. Serve with crusty bread.

*Although as of yet I haven't tried this, I would say trade &/or add favorite veggies, as well, my family says " Cheese please!" I think I will stir in some grated mozza

This recipe was swiped from the Paper Crafts Gourmet book