Recipe: Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup
Source: rec.food.recipes/Tina Dotzler

Serving Size : 6

1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup carrots -- thinly sliced
1 cup celery -- sliced
1 medium onion -- thinly sliced
1/2 cup green pepper -- coarsely chopped
1/4 cup parsley -- snipped
4 cups beef broth
1 can tomatoes -- chopped
1 cup spaghetti sauce
2/3 cup pearl barley
1 1/2 teaspoons basil -- crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cut meat into 1-inch cubes. In a large skillet brown meat, half at a time, in hot oil. Drain well. Meanwhile in crockpot combine carrots, celery, onion, green pepper, and parsley. Add broth, undrained tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, barley, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir in browned meat. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 10-12 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 1/2-5 hours. Skim off fat.