Tortellini Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage (, click for easy homemade recipe!)
• 1 medium yellow onion (, diced)
• 1 clove garlic (, minced)
• 2 sticks celery (, diced)
• 2 carrots (, diced)
• 14.5 ounce can plain tomato sauce
• 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 cups beef broth
• 14.5 ounce can French-style green beans
• 6 ounces dried cheese tortellini

Instructions

1. 1

   In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, onions, and garlic, breaking up any large clumps of sausage, until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions are soft and translucent.Add the celery and carrots and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. (Note: This soup base can be made a day or two ahead and then simply add the green beans and tortellini. In fact, it will taste even better that way as the flavors will have had more time to meld.)Add the green beans and tortellini, return to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer for another 20 minutes.Serve with rolls and/or salad.