Recipe: Beef Barley Soup

Beef Barley Soup - Yum!

Since winter made a comeback this weekend (brrrr!), I decided to post this recipe for a hearty, warm winter soup.  My Mom makes this soup at home a lot, but I think she originally got the recipe from Lenten Soup Suppers at church.  It's very easy to adjust for flavor and veggies, and I typically just throw whatever I find in the freezer into the soup pot.  Super easy, yummy, frugal, and satisfying.

Beef Barley Soup   1 lb. ground beef (I use grass fed beef from Greenwood Farms!) 1 T olive oil (or your choice cooking fat) 2 c. chunky med. salsa (or whatever level of hotness you want.  Last time, I used 1/2 medium & 1/2 hot, and it was pretty hot!) 2/3 c. quick barley (I usually add extra barley to make it heartier.) 2/3 c. cauliflower and/ or frozen peas (in the picture above, I used peas, green beans, sliced zucchini, and frozen corn) 2 T minced dried onion 5 c. beef broth (add some water if you used extra barley) 1 C julienne strips of carrots (I used whole baby carrots...lazy...) 1 T basil (adjust based on how many veggies or barley you add) 1 (15 to 16 oz.) can red beans, rinsed   Brown beef and onion in olive oil, drain grease, if necessary.  Add broth, salsa, carrots, barley, beef, and basil to a large stock pot.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce to simmer, cook uncovered 10 minutes.  Add cauliflower and/ or peas.  Cook 5 minutes.  Then add beans and cook to heat throughout.   Very easy!  Basically, you just dump and cook.  I typically double the recipe, let cool to room temperature, portion and freeze for later consumption.  You could definitely double this recipe but only use 1 pound of beef for an extra frugal way to stock your freezer (I LOVE my deep freezer!).