Country Pork Soup

When I was young, we ate a lot of pork and chicken. I suppose it was less expensive than beef. I've eaten many bowls of this hearty filling soup while sitting at my grandma's table.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb  pork loin, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1  tablespoon  oil
• 1  cup carrot, thinly sliced
• 1  cup  diced celery
• 1  cup  cubed peeled potato
• 1 (8 ounce) envelope  dry onion soup mix
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 4  cups hot water
• 3  beef bouillon cubes
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, cut up
• 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano leaves, crushed
• 1 (10 ounce) package  sliced frozen okra (optional)
• 1  dash  hot pepper sauce

Directions

1. Add oil to dutch oven and heat over medium heat. When oil is heated, add pork and brown. Add carrots, celery and potatoes. Cook 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients except okra. Cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring often.
2. Add okra and cook 15 additional minutes.
3. Serve with crackers or cornbread.