Autumn Vegetable Beef Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 lb. very lean ground beef
3/4 c. chopped onion
2 c. hot water
3/4 c. chopped celery
3/4 c. diced potato
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 bay leaf, crumbled
1/8 tsp. dried sweet basil
1/4 tsp. chives
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded (optional)
1 can (16 oz.) tomatoes, undrained
2 carrots, thinly sliced

Preparation

Brown ground beef and onion in large saucepan.
Drain off fat. Add remaining ingredients.
Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.