Vegetable Beef Soup

I love to make soups in the crock pot.  Just through all of the ingredients in, first thing in the morning and you come home to a delicious and nourishing meal at the end of the day.  Add a salad and some bread and dinner is ready.  I especially like this soup because the meat doesn't have to be precooked which saves even more time and it uses only real food.  No canned soups or boxed mixes or processed whatevers in sight!

I adapted this recipe from the "Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes" cookbook which has been on my bookshelf for so long that I don't even remember where I got it.

Vegetable Beef Soup
1 pound ground beef
1-28 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 large onion
2 small potatoes, cubed
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 stalks celery, slices
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
dried red pepper flakes, to taste
Break up the meat as much as you can and place in the crock pot.  Add the rest of the ingredients and then add enough water to cover.  Cook on Low for 8-12 hours or high for 3-5 hours.  Serve with Parmesan cheese, if desired.  Makes 6 servings.


Yes, nothing tells your family they are loved and cared for quite like a good homemade soup to come home to at the end of the day.  Isn't it great that there's a way to do that even in the busiest of times!  It sure does beat take out.


What's your favorite soup recipe?

This post is linked to:
Sunday Night Soup Night
mangia mondays
Melt in Your Mouth Mondays
Hunk of Meat Monday
Make Your Own! Monday
Fat Tuesday
WFMW
What's Cooking Wednesday
Recipes I Can't Wait to Try
Turning the Table Thursday
Full Plate Thursday
Frugal Food Thursday
It's a Keeper Thursday
Simple Lives Thursday