Autumn Soup

Recipe From: Karen Myers

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 cup chopped onion
6 cups water
2 cups cut up carrots
1 cup diced celery
3 cups cubed and pared potatoes
2 t. salt
1 t. beef bouillon or 1 cube
1/4 t. pepper
1 bay leaf
1/2 basil
6 tomatoes*

In a large saucepan, cook and stir meat until brown. Drain off fat. Cook and stir onions with meat until onions are tender; about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients except tomatoes; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes longer or until veggies are tender.

*2 - 28 oz cans of tomatoes with liquid can be substituted for the fresh tomatoes. Reduce water by 1 cup. The canned tomatoes break apart and give a a rosy color. Most of the time I brown hamburger ahead of time and freeze in a zip lock bag. I just mix up all the ingredients and the hamburger in the crock pot and put on low all day. I usually add more of all the veggies than the recipe calls for.