Lately With the slight chill in the air I have had this craving for homemade vegetable soup with beef, yes I said with beef. For the most part I do not eat red meat, not that there anything wrong with it, but for several days I have wanted this soup badly, so lets get to cooking!
There are many ways to cook soups and many things to add to soups. I am sharing the recipe that always got me a lot of mmm`s and the empty pot at the end of the meal.
To make Vegetable soup with beef you will need:
3 - large potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 ounces of baby carrots or 2 large carrots , peeled and sliced in circles
1- large onion, peeled and chopped
1- stalk of celery, strings removed and sliced
1- ear of corn, cleaned and took off the cob or 1 can of sweet corn drained
1/2 cup of okra - Optional but oh so good
1/2 pound of fresh green beans, strings removed and snapped into bite size pieces or 1 can of green beans drained
2 cans of diced tomatoes
One clove of chopped garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of powdered garlic
Salt and black pepper to taste
Beef of choice - 1 pound of hamburger cooked and drained or stew meat- roast cut into cubes
Put potatoes, carrots, onions, celery and garlic into a large cooking pot and bring to a rolling boil.
Add meat. Cooked hamburger or raw stew meat/ cubed roast.
Reduce heat to medium low and cook for thirty minutes.
Add all the rest of the vegetables except okra and cook on low for two hours, stirring on occasion. In the last thirty minutes add the okra.
Serve hot with cornbread or over rice.Even add 1/2 cup of cooked noodles if you like.
And that is my homemade vegetable soup with beef that is guaranteed to warm your soul on a cold day.
NOTE: If you like a thicker soup add instant potatoes a little at a time until desired thickness.
Want more tomato- celery taste? Add 1/2 cup of V-8 juice.
By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry