Super Easy Slow-Cooker Vegetable Barley Beef Soup

This is another one off the top of my head that is very difficult to screw up. I have a habit of making 1 dish meals, this is so hearty, it qualifies.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 5 mins
• Serves: 10-15

Ingredients

• 1  quart water
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1  tablespoon  pineapple juice
• 1  tablespoon soy sauce
• 1⁄2 ounce  beef base
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 16  ounces  frozen mixed vegetables
• 6  ounces pearl barley
• 16  ounces stewing beef (diced)

Directions

1. Dissolve the tomato paste in the water.
2. Add the pineapple juice, soy sauce and beef base.
3. If you do not have beef base, you may substitute 1 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp MSG, and 1 more tbsp soy sauce.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, stir until evenly dispersed (the barley will sink).
5. Heat on High until the beef is fully cooked.
6. Lower heat to the low setting, and let it sit for two hours or longer.