TUSCAN BEEF AND BARLEY SOUP

Tuscan Beef and Barley Soup image

Provided by Kimberly Biegacki

Categories Beef

Time 2h50m

Number Of Ingredients 25

4 c homemade beef broth or organic beef broth
4 c water
3/4 c barley
3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 can(s) fire roasted tomatoes, diced
3 box tuscan vegetables --- this goes in last
SEAR MEAT
1 beef shank bone
1 1/2 - 2 lb porterhouse steak, cut in bite size pieces
1 - 2 Tbsp olive oil
SAUTE VEGGIES
4 medium celery stalks, chopped
1 large leek, chopped up fine
4 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 - 2 Tbsp butter
1/2 c marsala wine
SPICES/SEASONINGS
3 Tbsp onion flakes, dehydrated
2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp savory
3 medium sized bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp thyme
1 Tbsp basil, dried
1 tsp celery salt
1 1/2 tsp bell's seasoning (salt free)

Steps:

1. Get a large stock pot and add your broth and water. Bring to a boil and then add your diced potatoes, barley and fire roasted tomatoes and place on simmer.
2. Next, heat up your olive oil in a pan and sear off your 1 lb. beef shank bone and 1 or 2 porterhouse steaks. Remove from pan and directcly add your shank bone w/meat right to the pot. Then after your steaks have cooled, chop them into bite size pieces and add to pot.
3. Next, heat your butter and take your chopped celery and leeks and saute in pan for 8 to 10 minutes. Add your garlic after 4 minutes. Then add your marsala wine and finish sauteing in the wine. Add entire mixture to your soup pot. Then add all your seasonings and put the pot on simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Checking and stirring occasionally and add more water/broth is necessary.
4. Add these about 1/2 to 3/4 hour before soup is done. These are the Tuscan veggies I used that you can normally find in the frozen section of the grocery store. ---This has zucchini, red and yellow peppers, carrots & squash.
5. Now, you are ready to serve up your bowls of Tuscan Beef and Barley soup with some crusty Italian bread sliced w/some butter.
6. If you have any leftover then you can place in containers and freeze and use for a later meal.