Bean, Barley & Beef Soup

BBB Soup

Good thing it tastes better than it looks!

2 packages of Trader Joe's bean & barley soup mix (just beans and, uh, barley - no spices or ickies)
1 lb of ground beef
1 large red onion
6 carrots
2 celery hearts
Better Than Bullion Low Sodium Organic beef broth paste
TJ's 21 Season Salute
sea salt, fresh ground black pepper

Put beans in big pot. Cover with 3x as much water. Bring to a low boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn off and let sit while you go pick up your car from the shop, make dinner, and get the kid ready for bed.
Before going to bed drain the beans, put in the crockpot on low. Cook on low about 12 hours or overnight.
In a big pot cook the beef and vegetables until beef is browned, salt & pepper the beef.
Add beans (not the cooking liquid) to the pot. Cover with fresh water.
Add a lump of beef broth paste. Add 21 season salute to taste.
Simmer until vegetables are cooked through.

Bean and Sausage Soup

olive oil
1/4 red onion, chopped fne
4 green onions, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped fine
inside of celery - about 1/2 cup chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 beef kielbasa (even better if you get it on super sale for 99 cents!)
large can tomatoes, chopped with juice
60~ oz beef broth (more or less as needed)
2 cans low sodium black beans
1 can white kidney beans
3/4 a bag of frozen white corn
big handful of baby spinach, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped

Z - ate some
W - ate a full bowl, and some seconds
C - loved it, ate two giant bowls
K - loved it, ate two giant bowls