Tortellini Sausage Soup

This is from Our Best Bites. It is delicious and hearty. 

3 links Italian Sausage (Ambs and I learned- don't buy the cheap kind! Ive successfully used  

     Johnsonville)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1/2 cup apple cider (don't leave out! You can even use the powdered kind and it works)

1/2 cup water

2 (15 oz) cans chicken broth

1 cup sliced carrots

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

2 Tbsp dried parsley

2 med zucchini, shredded

1 (8-10 oz) package cheese tortellini (you can get this in the refrigerator section or the frozen foods 

    section. Frozen is so much cheaper and works just as well)

parmesan cheese

Remove the casings from the link sausage by using a knife to cut a slit down one side of the sausage and peel back the casing. Crumble into a large pot and begin cooking over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic to the pot. Continue cooking until the onion is translucent and the sausage is cooked. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, apple cider, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano and basil. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add parsley and zucchini and simmer another 15 minutes. Add tortellini and cook until tender (about 5 minutes). Serve with bread and freshly grated parmesan cheese.