Recipe: Italian Sausage Soup (using potatoes and tomatoes)

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

1 1/2 lbs. hot Italian sausage
1 small onion, chopped
1 (28 oz.) can tomatoes
3 medium potatoes, peeled & cubed
5 medium carrots, peeled & sliced
4 medium stalks celery, sliced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 cups beef broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Brown whole sausages in a large soup pot; remove and cut into slices. Drain fat from pot, return sausage slices, and saute onion until tender.

Add remaining ingredients breaking tomatoes into smallish pieces; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

VARIATION:
You can add 1/2 a cup of small shaped pasta to this as well if you like.

From: linda/tennessee