HERBERGER HAMBURGER SOUP

Plain ol' vegetable beef soup, made with love.

Ingredients:
1-1.5lbs ground beef (80% fat)
1 lrg white onion (about 2 cups)
4+ fresh garlic cloves
4-8 cups beef broth & 1-2 boullion cubes
1 lrg can of crushed or diced tomatoes
3 lrg carrots
3 stalks celery
2-3 potatoes
0.5-1 cup frozen peas
0.5-1 cup frozen corn
1 can green beans
3 bay leaves
Optional: 1 can beans of your choice (e.g. black, lima,...)

Herbs & Spices to taste:
basil (dry)
oregano (dry)
thyme (dry)
onion powder
garlic powder
crushed red pepper and/or hot sauce
salt and pepper

I willingly admit to professing that this soup will help cure or prevent feeling sick -- and, in particular, feeling homesick. This is the soup that my mom, aunt, and Gramma would bring to me at college or that they would send me home with after break. I kept it frozen and chipped away at it on days I felt down or under the weather or hungry for something that wasn't made in a cafeteria. This is the Herberger Family Soup.



Chop onion and garlic. Peel (if necessary), chop, and rinse the carrots, celery, and potatoes. Place your largest pot on med-low and add beef broth, tomatoes, and herbs and spices (you can always add more later to taste). If you have more than 4 cups of beef broth, you may not need any boullion cubes, if you're using only 4, then you will probably need to add 1-2 beef boullion cubes and a couple cups of water. This can be added later on.

Saute ground beef in a large pan on med to med-high heat (med-low if the meat is frozen). As meat begins to brown (and is fully thawed), add chopped onion and garlic. Saute until onion is transparent (tender) and beef is totally cooked. Remove from burner and set aside.

Bring broth/tomato mixture to a boil on high and add celery. After boiling a couple minutes, add carrots and potatoes. Boil until all vegetables are tender, but not completely cooked and NOT overcooked.

Add meat mixture and remaining vegetables (frozen and canned) to the soup. At this time it will be obvious whether or not more water must be added. Check taste and add boullion as needed. Add additional spices until desired taste.

Let soup simmer (or simmer on higher heat if vegetables are not quite "there" yet) for 20-30min or more until vegetables are done.

Serve with bread and butter, of course! Preferably follow up with Gramma's zucchini bread. And more butter.