Hearty Beef Vegetable Chowder

1 lb. ground beef OR
1 lb. Round steak cubed in about ½ inch cubes
1 c. chopped onions
1 c. sliced celery
2 T. butter OR spray pan
with non-stick cooking spray
2 c. canned tomatoes
4 c. hot water
2 - 4 beef bouillon cubes OR
4 tsp. beef soup base
1/8 tsp. pepper
½ bay leaf
½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. uncooked noodles OR other macaroni such as alphabet
1 pkg. (10 oz. - 16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables
¼ tsp. thyme


Sauté meat, onions and celery in butter in a large soup pot until beef is well browned. (If you are not using very lean ground beef, you may want to brown the beef, drain most of the fat, then sauté onions and celery.) Add tomatoes, water, bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add noodles, mixed vegetables and thyme. Bring to a boil again and cook 15 minutes. Makes 6 – 8 servings.

This was a recipe Mom got from one of her friends in her Susannah Circle. (A United Methodist Women's group, named after Susannah Wesley.) I believe we kids, or at least I, called it "Hamburger Soup." It's a quick, hearty hot soup and I had forgotten how good it makes the house smell, until I made it recently.

I had a very special reason to make this soup again. My cousin, Krishana (actually my "first cousin, once removed" as she is my first cousin, Pam's daughter) has been diagnosed with Follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She had told her mom that vegetable soup sounded good to her, so Pam asked if I could make some. I jumped at the chance to do something for her. (So as you read this, will you please pray for Krishana?) It made my heart glad when I got a call the next evening and heard a chorus of "Thank you, Michelle. The soup is delicious!" from Krishana and her parents, Pam and Dennis. Cooking is so my element, so I hope I can be of service to Krishana over the next 6 months as she undergoes her chemotherapy. Again, I ask for your prayers for Krishana.