Italian Sausage, Zucchini, and Macaroni Soup

Ingredients

• 4-5 links hot Italian Sausage, cut into 3/8 inch slices
• 2-3 tsp. olive oil, for browning sausage
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 T finely chopped fresh garlic, or garlic puree
• 2 cups diced zucchini
• 6 cups homemade chicken stock
• 3 cups frozen slow-roasted tomatoes
• 1-2 cups water
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. dried basil
• 1 cup whole wheat macaroni
• 3 T minced fresh basil
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving soup

Directions

1. Warm the olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan, then add the sausage and cook it until it is nicely browned and firm. Move the sausage to a cutting board and slice it into 3/8 inch pieces. Return the slices to the pan and brown them well on both sides. If you are using pre-cooked turkey Italian sausage, simply slice it first and brown the pieces.
2. As the sausage cooks, add the homemade chicken stock, oregano, slow-roasted tomatoes, and basil to a medium stock pot and bring the mixture to a simmer.
3. Once the sausage is deeply browned, transfer it into the simmering stock mixture.
4. Add the onions to the same pan used for the sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes, just until they begin to soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
5. Scrape the onions and garlic into the soup.
6. Pour 1 cup water into the frying pan to loosen the browned bits, then add that liquid to the soup. Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
7. Trim the ends from the zucchini, cut each one lengthwise into fourths, and remove the white center so only 3/8 inch remains. Slice the zucchini strips into 1/2 inch pieces.
8. Add the zucchini to the soup and simmer for 15 minutes.
9. Taste the soup and, if the flavor needs balancing, add the second cup of water.
10. Stir in the pasta, adjust the heat so the soup stays at a very gentle boil, and cook for 15 minutes more.
11. Add the fresh basil, if using, or use frozen basil.
12. Cook for 5 minutes more.
13. Serve the soup hot, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese to add at the table.