Bean Barley soup with Green Curly Kale

Once again I was inspired by a recipe for kale soup and decided to try out my own variation.  This is a yummy, hearty soup, perfect for these last few weeks of Winter!

Ingredients:

1 onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic minced
4 carrots washed and chopped
1 head of curly Kale
1 can of kidney beans washed and drained
2 tomatoes chopped
1 cup of pot barley washed and drained
salt
pepper
cayenne pepper
vegeta

Directions:

1. Sautee onions and garlic in a large pot using a bit of water.
2. When onions are translucent, add beans, carrots and kale.
3. Add 7 cups of water to pot.
4. Add chopped tomatoes to pot.  (I use frozen from my summer garden.  Run under hot water to remove skin)

5. Bring pot with ingredients to boil.
7. Add salt and cayenne pepper  - this is by your preference.  We like it spicier so I add more spice.
8. Add pot barley and reduce temperature to low.  Let soup simmer for 1 hour.

9.  After 1 hour, add 1-2tsp of Vegeta (I use msg free - you can buy at deli's and Zehrs).  Bring soup up to boil for 5 minutes.
10.  Let soup sit for 15-20 minutes before serving.