Amy Thurston's Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini
1 lb. Italian Sausage
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic- minced
5 cups beef broth
1 cup water
1(14oz)Can Stewed tomatoes(I substituted a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and omitted tomato sauce)
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1/2 t. packed fresh basil
1/2 t. dried oregano
1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 medium green pepper
1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini
8 oz. fresh tortellini (I use cheese tortellini)
3 T. chopped fresh parsley

1. Brown sausage in 5 quart dutch oven remove and drain. Reserve 1 T. drippings.
2. Saute onions and garlic in drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce and sausage. Bring to boil- simmer uncovered for 30 min.
3. Remove fat from soup. Stir in zucchini ,green pepper and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 min. Add tortellini during the last 10 min. Sprinkle with paremesan cheese.