Creamy Tomato Soup with Tortellini and Sausage

Ingredients:
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 button mushrooms, sliced (optional)
2 tbs. flour
1 bay leaf
2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
2 Tbs. tomato paste
1.5 cans chicken stock
2 cans condensed tomato soup
1 tsp. dried porcini powder (optional)
2 Tbs. dried basil
2 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 package frozen tortellini
1 lb. Italian sausage
3/4 cup whole milk or half and half
grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium high flame. Add the onion, mushrooms and garlic and cook till onions are translucent, about 7 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook another couple of minutes. Add the bay leaf, tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, tomato soup and seasonings and bring to a simmer. Turn heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes to an hour.

Meanwhile, cook your sausages and brown them all over. Slice into rounds and brown those too. Add the sausage and tortellini to the soup. When tortellini is cooked, stir in the milk. Remove bay leaf. Serve with grated parmesan cheese and slices of buttered rustic bread.