Tortellini Sausage Soup- From 'Our Best Bites'

Tortellini Sausage Soup
Serves 6-8

3 links Italian Sausage
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, pressed or minces
1 (14.5- ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 c. apple cider (DON"T leave this out!)
1/2 c. water
2 (15-ounce) cans chicken broth
1 cup sliced carrots
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
2 Tablespoons dried parsley
 2 medium zucchini, shredded
1 (8-10- ounce) package cheese tortellini
Parmesan cheese

1. Remove the casings from link sausage. Use a sharp knife to cut a slit down one side of the sausage and then peel back the casing. Crumble sausage into a large soup pot and begin cooking it over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic to the pot. Continue cooking until onion is translucent, the sausage is cooked, and your house smells like heaven. ;)
3. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, apple cider, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer 1/2 hour. Add parsley and zucchini and simmer another 15 minutes or so. Add tortellini and cook until tender. Serve with bread and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.