Beef Barley Soup

I bought some barley the other day at the store with hopes of making our lives a little bit healthier. :) It's only 10 a.m. and the soup is simmering on the stove. I can't believe I'm already ready for dinner. This is surely not always the case! Here's the recipe:

 

1 pound lean ground beef

1 onion, minced
4 carrots, chopped
3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 cup barley
3 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
5 cups water
4 beef bouillon cubes (you can use canned broth too)
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
ground black pepper, to taste

Brown the ground beef and drain (I rinse w/ hot water too to get rid of even more fat). Add all the other ingredients and simmer on low for two hours. Easy peazy!!! I'm thinking of making some cornbread to go with this or English muffin bread. Here in the Midwest, it's still winter, so soup's on!