Wednesday soups, beef barley.

Wednesdays are soup days.  My fiancee has a work related class and a problem to solve every week with a small group of co-workers.  Often she has no idea when she can run home quick for dinner so I tend to make some sort of crock pot based soup.  That way its ready when ever she can come home.  Once i get a few more typed up I'll have a section on the top for Wednesdays soups.  This week I made a an easy crock pot beef barley.

Crock Pot Beef Barley.

Ingredients

2 Quarts of beef broth

6 oz can of tomato paste

1 cup of barley

A couple of potatoes cubed

1/2 to a pound of beef cut into cubes

chopped mixed vegetables.

Salt and pepper

I normally start out with the beef broth and tomato paste in the crock pot on low while I get everything else ready.  Add in the barley and potatoes.  I used 2 white potatoes washed then cubed, I like the skin of the potato so I don't peal them.  Next add in the beef.  Ended up using some stir fry beef strips that I cut into rough cube strips.  I always try to keep a bag of frozen mixed veggies in the fridge for soup.  Open the bag and pour them in.  I'll also add whats ever in the fridge either fresh or left overs.  This soup got a carrot some celery and fresh green beans along with some tex-mex corn mix left overs.  Stir everything together with a good helping of salt and pepper.  Leave on low for 6-8 hours and enjoy.