Joe's Mom's Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Ingredients

• 1  bay leaf 
• 5 cups beef broth 
• 1 pound bulk spicy sausage italian
• 10 ounce tomato sauce canned
• 1 cup carrots grated
• 0.5 teaspoon basil dried
• 0.5 cup cooking wine dry red
• 3 tablespoons parsley fresh chopped
• 2 large cloves garlic minced
• 1  bell pepper green chopped
• 1 cup onion chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon oregano dried
• 2 cups tomatoes chopped
• 9 ounce tortellini 
• 1 cup water 
• 1.5 cups zucchini sliced

Equipment

• frying pan

Directions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the sausage, onion, and garlic. Cook and stir until the sausage is crumbly and lightly browned.
2. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the red wine, beef broth, and 1 cup of water.
3. Add tomato, carrots, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Stir in the zucchini, bell pepper, and parsley. Continue simmering for 45 minutes more.
5. Pour in the remaining 1 cup of water. Increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Stir in the tortellini. Cook until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf before serving.