Part of being a Satisfied Spirit is taking joy in the everyday things of life.  That includes cleaning, laundry, dusting, crafting and everything else that goes on in my home.   And cooking is part of the list and I like to cook (especially in my crock pot/slow cooker).  After all, we all have to eat! Right?

Here’s a recipe for Beef Barley Soup that can be made in the morning and will be ready for the evening meal.  If it’s your plan to do this I recommend setting out the ingredients the night before so all you have to do is dump it in your Slow Cooker/Crock Pot.

1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup dried split peas
3 beef bouillon cubes — crumbled
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf

(You’re going to have leftover barley and split peas so why not make several batches of this dry mix and store them in glass jars in the pantry.)

Spray the crockpot with any cooking spray (This makes it easier to clean.) and add the following:

1 can sliced carrots      1 can beef chunks     1 can diced tomatoes     6 cups water

Pour in the dry mix. Stir. Set the crockpot on low.  Let it cook all day.

Oh, my, I can imagine the awesome smell from the kitchen already.  I will have corn muffins or corn chips on the table with a fresh fruit salad.  My mouth is already watering.  I can hardly wait for dinner.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie