What do you think this is? Tortellini and Sausage Soup

 Oh yeah. That's right.

Reader, meet Tortellini Sausage Soup. Tortellini Saucy Pants, meet Reader.
This is hands down the best soup I have ever had in my entire life.

MMMMmmmMMM. Nom. 

Short history of the soup: I student taught in a private high school. There were only 98 students in the school so they did not have a lunch service. The different groups in the school would sign up for days and they would be in charge of the lunch for that day. My group, the Sophomores, made this soup every time. It is a recipe from a mom of one of my male students. That woman is a genius.

Ok. Enough with the story time. This is what you will need:

Tortellini Sausage Soup
1 lb Italian sausage
1 c. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic (2 tsp powder)
5 cans beef broth (7-8 cups)
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. dry red wine
2 c. chopped canned tomatoes 
1 c. thinly sliced carrots
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
15 oz. can tomato sauce

8 oz. package Tortellini 
2 T. fresh parsley
1 1/2 c. sliced zucchini
Grated parmesan cheese 

The process of making the soup is a little time-consuming but it is worth it.

First, remove the Italian sausage from the casing toss it in a pan and brown the heck out of it.

Reserve one tablespoon of the drippings and use it to sauté the onions and garlic.

Then begin throwing all of the ingredients except the last 4 into a kettle. I use a very large one because I double the recipe.

Bring all to a roaring boil. Then, calm it down and let simmer for 30 minutes.

After, the 30 minutes add the Tortellini, zucchini, and Parsley. 

Let simmer for another 30-45 minutes.

Dish it out and you may top it with some Parmesan.

Then...

Mangia! (Eat!)

Enjoy.