Vegetable Barley Soup – Finest of Suppers

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 stalk of celery, diced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth, a 32 ounce box of broth if using store bought
• 2 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, optional
• ¾ cup pearl barley, rinsed
• ½ cup fresh or frozen peas