Hamburger Vegetable Soup--A family recipe

This recipe is a family favorite.  I have eaten it since I was a child.  It is an easy, nutritious soup to make and freezes well.  I usually make this in a double or triple batch and freeze a couple of bags for later.  

1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 16 oz. can tomatoes
5 cups water

2 medium onions
2 medium carrots
2 stalks celery
1/2 cup barley (pearl)--if you are eating this quickly, you want to use quick barley, if not, the regular barley will be just fine
1/4 cup ketchup
1T beef bouillon
1 tsp basil
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper

Cook the ground beef or turkey with onion, add the carrots, celery, basil, salt and pepper.  Add the tomatoes, water, bay leaf, bouillon, and barley, so that everything is mixed.  Cook until veggies are tender. Remove the bay leaf and serve. It is a great, warming soup for the whole family!  Enjoy!

Amanda