Homemade Vegetable Soup

Vegetable soup is one of my all time favorite dishes/meals.  I eat it all the time -- when it's cold, when I'm too lazy to cook a real meal, or when I'm sick.  And my Mom made the best homemade vegetable soup -- we always got so excited as kids when she made a big pot!  And so I called Mom the other week and asked for the recipe!  :)

One of the biggest advantages to making homemade soup is that you can make it (and you can only make huge portions -- there's no such thing as a small soup recipe lol) and then freeze whatever is left over!!  So you'll have meals for ages. :)

It's low calorie, heart healthy, it has tons of vegetables (which as Americans we don't get enough of), and it's so easy to make!!  :)

I made my soup in a croc pot, but Mom's recipe calls for the use of a dutch oven.

INGREDIENTS
Package Stew Beef (get the leanest cuts you can!  Venison or Bison would be great choices as well)
Beef Bullion Cube
Rosemary
Thyme
Basil
Onion
Carrots
Frozen Vegetables of choice: peas, lima beans, corn, green beans, etc
2 cans whole, peeled tomatoes
2 small cans tomato sauce
*or for thicker broth, 1 small can tomato sauce and 1 can tomato paste

STEPS
1.  Place Stew Beef in dutch oven.  Cover with just enough water to come to the top of the meat.  Brown meat by boiling.
2.  While meat is cooking, chop up onion and carrots
3.  Once meat is done, place onion, carrots, potatoes (if desired), frozen vegetables, whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, and (if chosen) tomato paste in the pot.  Stir
4.  Add 1 beef bullion cube.  Add other spices to season to taste.
5.  Let simmer for a couple of hours on medium heat.
6.  Eat and enjoy!! :)

Depending on your seasonings, a cup of homemade beef vegetable soup will run you about 150 calories.  So like I said, a great, healthy meal that's cheap, easy, long lasting, delicious, and filling!!  How could you pass it up??