Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 small zucchini, diced
• 1 small bell pepper, diced
• 1 small potato, peeled and diced
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup frozen green beans

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, brown and crumble the ground beef over medium heat. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add onion, garlic, carrot, zucchini, bell pepper, and potato to the pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
3. Incorporate diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
4. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Introduce frozen green beans and continue simmering for an additional 10 minutes or until the vegetables reach desired tenderness.
6. Remove the bay leaf and serve the soup hot.