Hearty Fall Soup

I make this soup all the time in the fall and winter months.  It's kid friendly - its great to watch them gobble it up!  It's also a hearty soup that keeps you full, freezes well and is pretty much a meal in itself.  This recipe is easy to make (goes in the crockpot!) and is a great meal to bring over for a new mom or anyone needing a hand with meals.

Hamburger Soup (modified from The Big Cook recipe)

1 lb lean ground beef
3/4 cup barley
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pack chopped frozen spinach
2 bay leaves
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup frozen peas
10 oz can of condensed tomato soup
28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup celery
1 tsp dried thyme
3 garlic cloves, minced
30 oz (about 3 and a half cups) of beef stock
1 1/2 cups of water

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I have added corn and kale to this recipe before as well.  You can throw in your family favourites for added veggies.

Put all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-7 hours.  This recipe makes enough to feed my family and put half in the freezer for another meal.  As you make this recipe on a regular basis, you can adjust the amount of water you add if you want it more soup or stew like.

Add some fresh bread and you've got a delicious, comforting meal on the table.