Cathy's Sausage Tortellini Soup

This recipe has made the rounds recently and I've been saving the recipe for some cold weather. And yes, we've had some down here, but while things have warmed up nicely in S. Florida, my kids in Michigan are having the coldest, snowiest winter in years.
I was born and raised there and in those days of yore, winters were always cold and loaded with snow and ice; what's changed is the Weather Channel (they weren't around then so I guess it didn't count) is now naming the storms, in the manner of hurricanes. We used to call them cold snaps and blizzards. LOL.
Anyway....good stuff in this soup...hearty, warming and filling. Cathy said she preferred that particular brand sausage and fortunately, I had half a package in my freezer. I substituted kale for spinach but it's up to you..in fact, with soups like this, you can add and substitute, depending on what you want to use up. Best with homemade stock, of course.

Sausage Tortellini Soup
Adapted from Cathy at Noble Pig

Ingredients:

1 (16 oz) Jimmy Dean All Natural Regular Pork Sausage
1-1/2 cups chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, pressed
4 cups (32 oz) chicken stock (not broth, homemade if possible)
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (5 oz) can tomato paste
1 Tablespoon dried oregano leaves
1 Tablespoon dried basil leaves
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried red chili peppers
1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
10 oz cheese tortellini
3 oz fresh baby spinach leaves (I used kale)

Method:
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Make little balls of sausage by rolling them between your hands and then drop them into a hot pan. Brown all sides and completely cook them through. Remove onto a paper-towel lined plate.
Saute onions in the fat leftover from the pork until soft; about 8 minutes. Add pressed garlic and saute for 30 seconds more.
In a soup pot, mix chicken stock, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar, chili peppers, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil. Add onion-garlic mixture and simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered. 
Add tortellini and cook according to package directions, usually about 7-9 minutes. Add in cooked sausage and stir in kale or spinach until just wilted.
Serve immediately.