Beef & Barley Soup Recipe - Recipezazz.com

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef (can increase to 1 1/2 pounds)
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced (the more the better!)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional or adjust to heat level)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (optional or to taste)
• 2/3 cup pearl barley (rinsed with cold water, a little more won’t hurt)
• 4 carrots (peeled and finely chopped)
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 3 cans (10 1/2 ounce each) beef consomme, undiluted
• 1 cup water (or can use four cans consomme)
• 1 can (10 1/2 ounce) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
• 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste (I use seasoned salt)
• 1/2 fresh ground black pepper, or to taste