HEARTY HAMBURGER VEGETABLE SOUP

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 4 carrots, diced
• 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed
• 1 (15 ounce) can peas, undrained
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 ounce) can green beans, drained and rinsed
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 bay leaf, or more to taste
• 1/4 cup water, as needed

Directions:

1. Crumble the ground beef into a stockpot over medium-high heat; cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, which should take 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease.
2. Stir in the carrots, celery, and onion into the ground beef; cook and stir until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, tomato sauce, crushed whole tomatoes, undrained peas, corn, and green beans to the pot; season with black pepper. Stir the mixture until it’s evenly mixed. Add the thyme and bay leaf to the pot. Pour 1/4 cup water over the mixture if needed to moisten the mixture, replenishing as needed while cooking.
3. Bring the soup to a simmer, place a cover on the pot, and cook, stirring regularly until the potatoes are tender, which should take about 1 hour.

Enjoy your hearty hamburger vegetable soup!