Hamburger Minestrone Soup

½- 1lb ground beef (we used ground turkey w/ some extra spices)
¼ cup chopped onions
1-cup raw cubed potatoes
1 cup sliced raw carrots
½ cup shredded cabbage
*celery, corn, and green beans
1 can kidney beans (I cook my own and use 3/4 cup cooked)
1 ½ quarts water
1 can tomatoes (I use Italian stewed)
¼ cup raw rice
1 bay leaf
½ tsp. Basil
2 tsp. Salt



In a kettle cook beef with onions until slightly brown, drain off fat. Add water and all vegetables. Bring to a boil. Sprinkle in rice and seasonings. Cover and simmer 1 hour (longer is better for flavor)

I add the kidney beans the last few minutes of cooking.

*I also like to add 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped celery, corn, and green beans.
With the extra veggies this soup can get quite thick, so you may need to add extra water.