Melanie's Beef Barley Soup

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup barley 
• 2 pounds beef stew meat diced
• 1 cup carrots sliced
• 14.5 ounce chicken broth canned
• 0.3 teaspoon thyme leaves dried
• 0.5 cup mushrooms fresh sliced
• 16 ounce vegetables mixed frozen
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic minced
• 1 cup onion chopped
• 4 small potatoes red cut into chunks
• 10 servings salt and pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 3 cups water 

Equipment

• pot

Directions

1. Season beef stew chunks with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Place seasoned beef in a large soup pot.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and saute for 5 minutes on high heat.
4. Remove meat.
5. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to pot and add onions, carrots and mushrooms.
6. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring often.
7. Add garlic and thyme to pot and saute for 3 more minutes.
8. Add the chicken broth and 3 cups of water to pot.
9. Add the frozen mixed vegetables, potatoes and barley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir all together and bring to a boil. Cover pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.