This is my kids' and my all time favorite soup!  My husband will eat it only if he's starving.  "Veggies are what meat eats," he says.  If you're a veggie lover, give this a try -- you won't be disappointed!

1 pound ground beef or stew beef

1 C each of chopped onion, celery and carrots

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

2 (19 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

6 C water

8 beef bouillon cubes

1 Tbl dried parsley

1/2 tsp each of dried oregano and dried basil

2 C chopped cabbage

1 C each frozen corn, frozen green beans and frozen lima beans

INSTRUCTIONS

Place beef in a large soup pot.  Cook over medium heat until evenly browned.  Drain excess fat.  Stir in onion, celery, carrots, garlic, chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, water and bouillon.  Season with parsley, oregano and basil.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Stir in cabbage, corn, green beans and lima beans.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.  Simmer until vegetables are tender, 20-30 minutes.

Yesterday, the temperature rose to just over 40 degrees F.  What a treat!  An early taste of Spring. . . Samuel and Lilly went outside after lunch to play and managed to roll up some nice sized balls.  After picking out the dogs contributions , we think it turned out pretty good!  Today, the temps are back down to zero and our snowman has frozen solid.