Slow Cooker [or not] Beef and Barley Soup | Cook Smarts

Ingredients

• 6 oz Carrots, chopped
• 3 stalks Celery, sliced
• 1 Onions, medium, chopped
• 3 cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1 lb Beef, stew meat (usually sold pre-chopped or cube it yourself; sub boneless beef chuck roast, cubed)
• 1 Tbsp Oil, cooking
• 3 Tbsp Tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp Thyme, dried
• 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes (opt)
• 1/3 cup Pearl barley
• 5 cups Stock, beef
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp Lemon juice
• 1 Baguette, small
• for topping Parsley (opt), chopped