Tortellini Soup

Oh man this is the best soup. I took a double-batch of it to the fundraiser snack bar at our school's basketball game night.  We sold it for $4 a bowl and it was gone in no time. Our Principal asked me if I could email the recipe to his wife!  I got the recipe originally from my Mom, who got it from her friend Del in California. Here is the recipe if you want to make it for your family ... it is fabulous on a cold wintry night!

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP WITH TORTELLINIFrom my Mom’s friend Del
1 lb. Jimmy Dean Italian sausage
1 link of Lean Cuisine sausage, cut into 1/2” pieces
1 cup coarsely chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, sliced
5 cups beef broth (“Better than Beef” concentrate, dilute to 5c.)
½ cup water
½ c. dry red wine (I used a cheap cab. sauvignon)
1 medium green pepper, cut into ½ inch pieces
1 cup carrots, diced
Huge can of Hunts Diced tomatoes
Huge can of Tomato Sauce
½ tsp. basil leaves
½ tsp. oregano
8 oz. frozen tortellini
3 T. chopped parsley

Brown both sausages in a big soup pot. Add onions and garlic, and sauté until onions are tender.

Add diluted beef broth, water, wine, carrots, spices, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Stir in: Frozen tortellini, parsley, green pepper chunks. Simmer another 35-40 mins. – or until tortellini is tender.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired, before serving. This is even better the following day, especially since you can skim off the fat before reheating. Yum-O!