As I get older and am raising my two little ones, traditions are starting to mean even more to me than they did while I was growing up. One of the easiest traditions for me to carry on this time of year is feeding my family my mom's Beef Barley Soup. It's warm and filling and makes the whole house smell like home. You know when you walk into the house and the aroma of a soup swirls around your head and makes you want to sit down and eat right then? This is that soup.
I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we did growing up. And even more, I hope my kids love it as much as I do.
Ingredients:
1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
7 cups water
1/2 cup barley
1 bag of baby spinach
1 bay leaf
Instructions:
In large pot or Dutch oven, saute the onion and garlic, then add ground beef and brown. Add remaining ingredients except spinach and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add spinach and let it wilt. Serve hot!