Ingredients
1
cup uncooked regular pearl barley
1
dried bay leaf
1/2
teaspoon fennel seed
1 1/2
cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots, halved crosswise
1
cup sliced celery (2 medium stalks)
1
medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2
cup chopped green bell pepper (1/2 medium)
2
cloves garlic, minced
1
large dark-orange sweet potato, peeled, cubed
1 1/2
cups frozen corn (from 1-lb bag)
1 1/2
cups frozen cut green beans (from 1-lb bag)
1 1/4
teaspoons salt
1/4
teaspoon pepper
2
cans (14 oz each) vegetable broth
6
cups water
1
can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
Preparation
In 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, layer all ingredients except tomatoes; do not stir.
Cover; cook on Low setting 6 to 8 hours.
About 10 minutes before serving, stir tomatoes into soup. Cover; cook on Low setting 10 minutes longer or until tomatoes are thoroughly heated. Remove bay leaf before serving.