Italian Sausage, Tortellini and Spinach Soup

The weather is getting colder.  This is a hearty quick soup for a weeknight.  It reminds me of a soup I used to get at a chain restaurant.  The spiciness depends on the spiciness of the Italian sausage.  


Ingredients
1 tbs olive oil
1 lb hot Italian sausage (about 5 links)
1 medium onion chopped
1 tbs minced garlic
6 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
2 lb Tortellini (seven cheese)
3 cups baby spinach
Black pepper


In a dutch oven or large pot, heat olive oil and brown sausage.  Once sausage is brown, remove from pan and set aside.  To the hot pot, add chopped onion and garlic.  Scrape up all the little bits off the bottom of the pot.  Cook until onions are translucent to slightly caramelized.Add the chicken broth and bay leaf to the pot.  Slice sausage on the bias and return to the pot.  

In another large pot boil the Tortellini to al-dente (about 6 minutes). Once Tortellini is cooked, add to the chicken broth and 2 ladles of pasta water.  Add spinach to the soup pot and bring to a boil.   Stir in black pepper and serve.