LARGE FREEZER BATCH
Yields 4 batches (serves 6 /each batch)
2 lbs. regular Italian sausage
2 lbs. HOT Italian sausage**
4 cups diced onions
3 Tablespoons minced garlic
7 Tablespoons Better Than Bouillon Beef Stock
3 (29 oz) cans of Italian diced tomatoes
4 (8 oz) can of tomato sauce
8 cups of sliced zucchini
2 cups of sliced carrots
6 cups of diced bell peppers (red or yellow)
2 cups dry red wine
4 Tablespoons dried basil
4 Tablespoons dried oregano
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FREEZE: (in 4 portions (10 oz. servings) in 4 GALLON sized bags)
2 (20 oz) packages of fresh tortellini (cheese) or your choice
(Freeze in 4 (10oz) portions)
Topping:
Shredded parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup needed for each batch)
In frying pan, cook sausage until done and finely crumbled.
Add cooked sausage to LARGE stock pot.
In same frying pan, saute onion & garlic in grease from sausage until translucent.
Add to onion & garlic to LARGE stock pot.
Add remaining ingredients (NOT tortellini or parmesan cheese)
Mix all ingredients together well.
Once cool enough, divide into 4 equal portions and spoon into freezer bags.
Label EACH bag: Directions: Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Put into stock pot and add 5 cups of water. Remove 1 bag of tortellini from freezer to thaw and bring soup to a rolling boil. Once boiling add in tortellini and boil for 8-10 minutes.
This meal freezes well and is a quick, hearty soup. Remove 1 bag of frozen soup mix and 1 bag of frozen tortellini and follow directions on bag. It's ideal to thaw in refrigerator the night before, but many times, I pull this out last minute and thaw while cooking. Because we've made this so often now, I simply label the soup bag - Add 5 cups water and the tortellini bag - Boil 8-10 minutes in soup.
Serve hot and top with shredded parmesan cheese & salt & pepper (if desired)
https://seasonalharmony.blogspot.com/2018/11/tortellini-sausage-soup.html