Vegetarian Barley-Vegetable Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 quarts water
1 lb tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup pearl barley
2 cups frozen green beans
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill weed

Preparation

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat.
Add onion, carrot and celery and saute until softened.
Add water, tomatoes, salt, basil, thyme and pepper; bring to a boil.
Stir in barley.
Lower heat and cover.
Gently simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until barley is tender.
Stir in frozen green beans during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Remove from heat and stir in dill weed.
Serve warm.