Cheese Tortellini Soup

Spring is here, but it's still cold out and everyone at home has the sniffles.  Good time for a hearty soup.

For this one you'll need:

350g cheese tortellini
2 hot Italian sausages
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, sliced or chopped
2 carrots, diced
3-4 stalks celery, chopped
1 small zucchini, sliced
1 cup edamame beans
few drops of hot sauce (like Tabasco)
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups chicken or turkey broth
2 cups vegetable juice
28 oz can diced tomatoes
rind of parmesan
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp fennel

Fill a large soup pot with water and bring to a boil.  Cook tortellini as per package directions.  Drain, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and toss in a large bowl with olive oil.  Set aside to add to the soup later.

Back to the soup pot......heat it up and add olive oil.  Remove casing from sausages and chop.  Add to pot, breaking up as it cooks. When nearly fully cooked add minced garlic and toss 1 minute.  Next add onion and cook until translucent.

Toss in balance of the vegetables with the parmesan rind.

Add hot sauce, water, broth, vegetable juice and tomatoes.
Season with basil, oregano, salt, pepper and fennel.  Adjust to taste.

Cook until vegetables are tender,  then simmer on low about 20 minutes.

When ready to serve add the tortellini back to the soup pot and heat up. And don't forget a bowl of freshly grated parmesan on the table.