Beef Barley Soup

1 package stewing beef
1 cup raw pot barley
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 large potatoes, chopped
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
2 cans beef broth
2 cans water
soya sauce to colour and flavour
Pepper to taste
1 tsp dried parsley

Cut beef pieces into bite size pieces if necessary.

Rinse barley well.

Add everything to the crockpot. Add water until everything is covered. Cook 6-8 hours on low.

Frugal Tip: Rather than using precut stewing beef, unless it's on sale, purchase a roast of beef and cut it up into cubes. You can get three meals out of a good sized roast by cutting it yourself. You'll be saving money and packaging too!

Autumn Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups water
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup cubed potatoes
2 tsp salt
1 tsp Kitchen Bouquet
1/4 tsp pepper
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp basil
6 tomatoes (4 cups)

Cook meat till brown. Cook and stir onions with meat till onions are tender. Stir in rest of ingredients exceept tomatioes. Heat to boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add potatoes. cover and simmer until veggies are tender.

This is a wonderful, comforting, hearty soup on a cool autumn day. It's one of the first dinners we have when the weather turns cooler. Very tasty and very frugal too!