Vegetable Beef Soup

There is something about soup and cold weather that just go together.
This winter we have enjoyed many different soups and since, sadly, our winter season isn't quite over yet I thought I'd share another one with you.

I love making soup. I love the way the whole house seems to come alive with the yummy smells simmering from the stove. I love that you can throw in just about anything and that it'll just get richer and richer as it cooks.

I found this new soup recipe over the weekend and decided to give it a try since I had everything I needed (which was very exciting since a grocery trip to the store wasn't looking too appealing with the forecast of snow)....or so I thought.
Turns out my memory wasn't as good as I thought and we didn't have all the necessary ingredients. Oh well, I had to make a few changes but in the end I think it worked out great.
(p.s the weatherman was wrong and although it FELT like snow, we didn't get any! Yippee- I'm so over the snow.)

Anyways....
Try this soup, it's super easy and delicious!

Vegetable Beef Soup
(inspired by SnowWhite)

1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cups quartered baby potatoes
4 stalks celery
2 cups chopped carrots
2 cups cooked beef (I used leftover roast beef that I had in the freezer. It was chopped bite size and perfect for soup!)
1-2 cups frozen, mixed vegetables
1 24oz can crushed tomatoes
6-8 cups beef broth
basil, onion powder, salt, thyme & sea salt mix- to taste (I used about 1 tsp each)
dash of pepper

Heat broth and crushed tomatoes over med-high heat.
Add onion, potatoes, celery and carrots.
Boil for 10-15 minutes until vegetables begin to tenderize.
Add beef, spices and frozen mixed vegs.
Reduce heat and simmer, for as long as desired.

(I only let ours simmer about 20 minutes. Chris likes having the vegetables a bit on the crunchy side)