Hearty Sausage Soup (Soupa de Parma)

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1/2 lb chicken Italian sausage, sliced or crumbled

• 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup red wine

• 2 cups tomatoes, canned, chopped or broken up with a spoon

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 1 medium green pepper, chopped

• 3 medium zucchini, sliced 1/2-inch (1.5cm) thick

• 1 cup pasta shells, uncooked.

Easy to put together, this soup is a whole meal. Serve with corn muffins and a salad.

Directions

• Brown sausage in a non stick pan. Add onions and cook until they are translucent.
• Transfer to a large heavy bottomed soup pot, and add chicken or vegetable broth, canned tomatoes, wine and basil.
• Bring soup to a boil, stirring occasionally, then turn the heat down and cook for about 30 minutes.
• Add green pepper, zucchini and pasta and cook for another 25 minutes. Season with pepper, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese if desired.