Vegetarian Barley-Vegetable Soup

• 2 onions, peeled & diced
• 2 carrots, scraped & diced
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 T. butter or margarine
• 1 - 28 oz. can tomatoes, chopped
• 8 c. water
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 c. pearl barley
• 2 c. frozen green beans or peas
• 1 T. chopped fresh dill

Sauté the onions, carrots, and celery in heated butter or margarine in a large kettle for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, water, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in barley and lower heat. Cook slowly, covered, 1 1/2 hours, until barley is tender. Stir in beans or peas during last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove from heat and stir in dill.

• Yields: 10-12 servings
• Preparation Time: Less than 2 hours