Hamburger-Barley Soup

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped, with juice
• 1/2 cup pearl barley, thoroughly washed
• 4 cups beef stock or 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• fresh ground black pepper

1. In a large soup pot over medium heat, let the oil get warmed.
2. Add the meat, onion, garlic, celery, and carrot; stir/saute for 5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spoon--cook until meat is no longer pink.
3. Add in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.
4. Lower heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for about 1 hour or until vegetables and barley are tender.
5. Remove bay leaf and throw away.

vegetable oil, lean ground beef, yellow onion, garlic, stalks celery, carrots, tomatoes, pearl barley, beef stock, water, thyme, marjoram, bay leaf, salt, fresh ground black pepper

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/hamburger-barley-soup-147074 (may not work)