Italian Sausage with Tortellini Soup

It remains a mystery as to who should take credit for this recipe; Grandma or Uncle Duane. Regardless...thank you.

Ingredients
1 lb Italian sausage, uncased
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
5 c. of Beef broth
½ c. of water
½ c. of dry white wine
1 can of petite diced tomatoes
3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
½ tsp. dried basil
½ tsp. dried oregano
1 can of tomato sauce (8 oz)
2 zucchini, sliced
9 oz fresh cheese tortellini (preferably Buitoni)
3 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
1 green bell pepper, cut into pieces
Parmesan cheese

Brown sausage in 5-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Remove sausage, reserve 1 tbsp. drippings in Dutch oven. Cook onions and garlic in drippings until onions are tender. Add cooked sausage, broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Skim fat from soup. Stir in zucchini, tortellini, parsley and green pepper. Cover; simmer an additional 20-25 minutes, or until tortellini is tender. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 8 servings (1.5 cups)