Sausage Tortellini Stew

Ingredients

• 18 browned chopped sausage links (about 3 cups)
• 1 TB butter or margarine
• 1 chopped large onion
• 2 chopped ribs celery
• 2 cups chopped green bell pepper
• 2 finely sliced cloves garlic
• 3 chopped ripe tomatoes
• 2 peeled sliced carrots
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cut green beans
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 heaping cup peeled chopped eggplant
• 2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (9-oz. package)
• 1 halved sliced small zucchini
• 2 cups snipped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 TB snipped fresh oregano leaves
• 2 TB snipped fresh basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons snipped fresh marjoram leaves
• Ground black pepper
• Salt

Instructions

1. 1
   Melt butter; add onion, celery, green pepper and garlic. Sauté covered until limp, then add tomatoes, green beans, carrots, sausage, water and broth. Let simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Then add eggplant, tortellini, zucchini and herbs.
2. 2
   Simmer 15-20 minutes or more until tortellini is tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Makes 3 quarts.