The Benefits of Soup

There’s nothing like a bowl of soup to make the world seem just a little more manageable. My friend Laura is an amazing cook and the other day I was feeling rather miserable as I walked into her kitchen. She’s one of those people who always knows just what you need at your lowest moment without making a big deal of it. She looked at me and announced I needed soup, as she pulled the lid off of a delicious, tuscan bean concoction. Sure enough, 15 minutes later, warmed from the inside, I was feeling like I might survive my life for the next 24 hours.

So in the spirit of sharing the tools I find helpful to navigate life, below is my favorite soup recipe (thank you Wendy via Mom). I have high standards for a “favorite recipe” as it has to serve many masters. First, it has to be filling (twin 14 year old boys inhale food like air). Second, it cannot be full of cream and fat…gotta (at least try) to keep a girlish figure. Third, between work, kids, dogs, life in general, it needs to be simple. Martha Stewart be damned…if I can’t find the ingredients at the grocery store in less than 10 minutes, it’s just not happening. Fourth, it can’t be too spicy or too bland according to a 14 year old palate. Fifth, it must smell heavenly as it is cooking. Enjoy!

Vegetable Soup

 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
 2 c. slivered onions
 2 1/2 c. celery, diced
 1 lb. 14 oz. Canned tomatoes, diced
 1 46 oz. V-8 juice
 1/2 c. barley, boiled til swollen
 1-2 Cloves garlic, crushed
 1 1/2 tsp. Salt
 1/2 tsp. Black pepper
 2 c. water
 2 raw potatoes, diced
 1 bag frozen, mixed vegetables

Brown ground beef. Mix all other ingredients. Simmer 2 hours and enjoy the smell!

Ciao,

Jules