Beef and Barley Soup

I received this recipe from Rachel Dansie years ago. It is still one of my favorites.

1 lb ground beef
Salt
Pepper
Onion
1 clove garlic
2-3 stalks celery, diced
3-4 carrots, sliced
2-3 potatoes, diced
1/2 c barley (not instant)
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
6-8 cups water
boullion cubes (1 per cup water)
1 12 oz can V8

Brown ground beef with onion, salt, pepper and garlic. Transfer to soup pot. Add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for a long time.

You can add more vegetables if it seems to soupy or adjust spices to taste. After simmering mix a little corn starch and water to thicken.

This recipe could easily be adapted to a crockpot.