Tortellini Soup

I love to have a nice bowl of delicious soup in the winter time. There is just no other food that is so comforting during the cold months.

You will need:
1 lb. ground spicy italian sausage
1 sweet vidalia onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano
6 cups chicken stock
8 oz. can of tomato sauce
3 carrots, sliced
2 vine ripe tomatoes, chopped
10 oz. frozen package spinach, thawed
1/4 cup basil, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 lb. of fresh tortellini pasta
1 zucchini, sliced
1 red bell pepper, chopped

In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the sausage until no longer pink. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and put to the side. Add the onion, garlic, and the dried oregano to the drippings in the pot and saute for 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato sauce, carrots, tomatoes,  spinach, basil, salt, and the cooked sausage. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the pasta, zucchini, and red bell pepper and simmer for another 25 minutes. You can serve this with a little freshly grated parmesan cheese and some crusty bread. Enjoy!