Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Beef Barley Soup

Again, fall has arrived, and so I've been looking for inspiration to use the veggies I've grown all summer.  I've been watching a lot of cooking shows on The Cooking channel and The Food Network for new ideas to add to the old favorites. I made my family some Beef Barley soup last night for our supper, an old favorite.


 1 pound beef stew meat
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 stalks of celery, sliced
3 carrots, sliced 
beef stock
1/2 cup pearl barley
1 cup mushrooms
4 medium tomatoes

If you're an old fashioned style cook like me, you'll add things as it seems right - by instinct. But generally, you will first soak your barley in water for about an hour. Then you brown your beef and set aside. Saute the onions, celery, mushrooms and carrots in a big pot for about 10 minutes. Add beef. Then pour in the beef stock and add the pearl barley. Lastly I add a few peeled and seeded chopped tomatoes. Simmer for about 2 hours to bring out the oh so good flavor. Homemade bread goes really good with this, but if you didn't make any bread, crackers are always good. Add a big glass of milk and make your tummy happy. Yummy.