Sausage Tortellini Soup

1 lb. Italian Sausage
1 large onion (diced)
1 garlic clove
3 (14.5oz) cans beef broth or (5 ½ cups)
2 (14.5oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 medium sized carrots, sliced
2 medium sized zucchini, sliced
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 (9oz) package cheese tortellini
1 cup parmesan cheese

Cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink. Drain. Return mixture to pot. Stir in broth, and all remaining ingredients except tortellini and cheese. Boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. (I usually skim oil off the top of the soup at this point). Stir in tortellini and simmer 15-20 min more. (Just until tortellini is done) Serve with sprinkled parmesan cheese on top. Makes approximately 10 cups.

From the kitchen of: Melissa Hendershot