Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini

If sausage comes in casing, remove and make into little meat balls.

In 5-quart Dutch oven, or soup pot, brown sausage. Remove sausage and drain, reserving

1 tablespoon to saute onions and garlic until onions are tender.

Add all ingredients except tortellini.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until all vegetables are tender.

I sometimes shorten cooking time by cooking just the vegetables with a little water added in the microwave for 10 minutes and then adding to the soup broth.

Skim any fat from soup.

Stir in tortellini and simmer, covered, an additional 30 to 35 minutes.

Serve with garlic bread and you have a complete meal soup.