Italian Sausage Soup

Found this quote on the back of an Italian lentil soup mix years ago... Soup does seven things: It appeases your hunger, slakes your thirst,fills your stomach, cleans your teeth, makes you sleep, helps you digest and puts color in your cheeks. Well.... it might! =) Hope you enjoy this soup. This recipe freezes well,also.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot)
• 1  clove garlic, minced
• 1  medium onion, coarsley chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 (16 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1  cup  canned beef broth (or any of your favorite stock)
• 2  cups water
• 1 1⁄2 cups rotini pasta
• 1  small green pepper, coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh parsley
• 1  small zucchini, coarsely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1⁄3 cup  grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Split casing on sausages, remove meat and discard casing.
2. Brown sausage, garlic and onion in Dutch oven, over medium heat until sausage done.
3. Stir frequently to break sausage apart; drain.
4. Stir in tomatoes, broth, water, pasta, green pepper and parsley.
5. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
6. Stir in zucchini; simmer an additional 5 minutes or until pasta and zucchini are tender.
7. Pour into soup bowls; garnish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.