One of the most comforting, delicious, and healthy meals you can prepare is a big pot of homemade vegetable soup. My husband grew up eating what he refers to as granny's soup, which is a tomato and beef broth based concoction packed full of many different kinds of vegetables. Oddly enough, Steve (my husband) really hates most vegetables, but he absolutely loves this soup!

Ingredients

1 soup bone

2 pounds stew meat

2 cans Rotel or diced tomatoes (depending on your spice preference)

1 can beef broth

1 bay leaf

Salt to taste

Black pepper, cayenne pepper, or Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's) to taste

4 cans of water (use an empty broth or tomato can)

1 can garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas), drained

1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, lima beans, green beans, corn mixture)

Stovetop Directions

Place the soup bone and stew meat in a large stock pot that has been preheated. Once the meat is cooked, add the tomatoes, broth, and water to the mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Allow mixture to simmer at least an hour. Add vegetables and simmer for at least 15 more minutes. You can choose to let the soup simmer for several hours if you want.

Crock Pot Directions

If you would prefer to prepare you homemade vegetable soup in a slow cooker, transfer the meat to your Crock Pot after it is cooked, add all other ingredients, and simmer on low for approximately eight hours.

Recipe Variations

Keep in mind that this recipe is a starting point for making this soup recipe your own. I vary the way I make this soup, depending on my mood and what I have in the pantry at any given time. Sometimes I leave out the beef broth and use extra tomatoes or tomato sauce. Occasionally I just add beef bullion to the water instead of using beef broth.

You can really use any types of vegetables and beans that you want. I have used canned vegetables before, but find that I prefer frozen. If you do use canned vegetables, make sure that you drain the liquid before adding them to the mixture. I have added potatoes, field peas, extra green beans, rutabagas, kidney beans, and many other different types of vegetables and legumes.

You can also add pasta or rice if you desire. There are two important things to remember if you choose to add one of these items to your soup. First, make sure you cook the pasta or rice before adding to the soup mixture. Second, wait to add these ingredients until it is time to serve the soup. If either pasta or rice sits in the hot soup for too long, it will become very mushy.

Enjoy making granny's soup, and serve it with saltine crackers, cornbread muffins, or any other type of side you like!