Homemade Barley veggie soup.

Brrr,  :D. This cold weather makes me smile when I smell comfort food.
Soup is one of  my favorite foods.  Soups, stews, chowders...  When I make soups I always make a large soup pot full.  When it cools, I transfer the soup to sandwich zip lock baggies.
( sandwich zip locks make 1 bowl of soup. ). I place four full sandwich baggies in a one gallon zip lock freezer bag.  Then when I want soup, I pull out a bag , thaw it then heat it. I keep out enough soup for that night and the next night.   :D.    Feel free to alter, switch, change any ingredient that is what is so great about recipes.  They become yours when you personalize it.

     Here are a few of my recipes that I make quie often

Veggie Soup
Ingredients

If using frozen veggies,  I use. 1 large bag of the small cut
If using fresh veggies, I  use
3 large carrots cleaned and diced
3 large potatoes cleaned diced  ( I do not peel mine )
3.celery sticks. Diced, I also toss inthe leafy top of one of the stalks
1/2 cup of Barley
1 cup of frozen or fresh corn
1 cup of frozen or fresh green beans
1cup of  frozen or fresh peas
1 large or 2 medium size sweet onions diced
3 cloves of fresh garlic minced
1 large can of beans of your choice, rinsed until water is clear.
3 cups of chicken broth
1 teaspoon  oregano
1teaspoon. Thyme
1 teaspoon rosemary
I like to add either 1/2 cup of spinach or 1 cup of  cabbage chopped fine...
Dash of salt to taste ... I use sea salt or kosher
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
DO NOT USE GARLIC OR ONION SALT....

This sounds like a lot of ingredients. It really isn't
1 large can of diced tomatoes. Or two large tomatoes
3 cups of V- 8 juice. ( this adds so much flavor. )
If adding beef cubes.  I use about 8 to 10

Directions
3 tablespoons of oil,  I use extra virgin olive oil.
 In a hot skillet,  sauté meat, until pink, add onions and garlic,
I then add  carrots, celery, potatoes, can of tomatoes, beans, brown them slightly add broth and juice.
Add everything else. :D.   Once it boils, I turn the burner on low and simmer for four hours
If using crockpot start on high for one hour then reduce to low or simmer for four to six hours.
  I do this because the flavors blend well together and of course it is even better the next day.