Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

Ingredients

• Serves 8
• 2 pounds beef stew meat, diced into small pieces
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• 4 small red potatoes, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup barley

Directions

1. Season beef stew chunks with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Place seasoned beef in a large soup pot.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and saute for 5 minutes on high heat.
4. Remove meat and set aside.
5. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to pot and add onions, celery and carrots.
6. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring often.
7. Add garlic and thyme to pot and saute for 3 more minutes.
8. Add the chicken broth, water and crushed tomatoes to pot.
9. Add potatoes and barley.
10. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir all together and bring to a boil.
11. Add frozen peas last.
12. Cover pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.