Hamburger Barley Soup

Easy to make and very delicious from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, minced
4 carrots, sliced
3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1/2 cup barley*
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups water
30-32 ounces beef broth
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 bay leaf
1 Tbls parsley
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat, and crumble in the ground beef.  Cook and stir until the beef is evenly browned and no longer pink.  Drain and discard any excess grease.

Stir in the onion, carrots, celery and barley.  Pour in diced tomatoes, water, broth and tomato soup.  Season with bay leaf, parsley, garlic, thyme and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and cover; simmer for 2 hours, stirring frequently.  Remove bay leaf before serving.

*use "regular" barley if possible.  If using "quick cook" wait and add 1/2 hr before serving.