Food Friday - Tortellini Soup

This is a new soup recipe that I made at the end of October and it was so good!  Even the boys liked it, which says a lot. 

Tortellini Soup
adapted from Confessions of a Homeschooler

The Cheese Stuffed Tortellini really add a lot of flavor to this soup.  We also loved the sweet sausage - something so different from the typical beef or chicken in a soup. I did not use the German sausage - only the Sweet Italian Sausage - and the soup had plenty of meat. I also left out the kidney beans - we aren't huge fans :-)  I actually made this soup for the kids and I one night and, since there was so much left, I threw it in the crock pot later in the week on low for just a couple of hours (it was while we were out at the Harvest Fest) and it was perfect when we had it for dinner.  Also, recently, I made it again and used a can of green beans instead of zucchini and also used egg noodles instead of the Tortellini (Tortellini are expensive and don't always fit the budget!).  It was JUST as good! (And my kids still liked it!) I served this with a loaf of homemade bread from the bread machine.

6 links Sweet Italian Sausage
4 links German Sausage
2 cloves garlic chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 T olive oil (for browning onion/garlic)
2 cans beef broth plus 2 cans water (fill broth cans with water after pouring in broth)
1 16oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 1/2 t Italian Seasoning
2 c sliced zucchini (I just use 2 small zucchini’s)
1 6oz can sliced black olives (drained)
1 pkg Cheese Tortellini (I use Buitoni in the refrigerator section)
1 c carrots diced (optional)
1 can kidney beans (optional, I don’t use these)
Grated Parmesan Cheese
In large sauce pan, heat oil on medium heat and brown sausage links whole.Add garlic and onion. After onion is tender and sausage are cooked, drain grease and slice sausage. In Sauce pan (I just use the same pan) add beef broth, water, sliced sausage, garlic/onion mixture, tomatoes (drained), Italian seasoning, carrots, zucchini and beans. Let simmer for 20 min or until 10 minutes before you are ready to eat. 10 prior to dinnertime add tortellini and olives. Cook until tortellini are tender, approx 8-10 min.

This is a great soup as the snow starts to fly!