Beef Barley Soup With Mushrooms

This recipe yields 4 qts. of soup you can freeze. If you have less than 4 qts. add water. water will not dilute since the cooking has reduced about 1&1/2 qts. If you wait 1 hour before removing from pot you will notice how the barely has absorbed liquid.

1 lb. beef stew meat diced,
5 oz. onion, 6 oz. mushroom,
1 lb. medium barely, 2 oz. celery,
3oz. carrots,
3 qts. chicken stock + 3c. water,
2 tsp. thyme leaves,
1/2 tsp. ground bay leaf or 3 bay leaves.
Add 1/2 c. heavy cream at the end to lighten color as an option.
my cost--$21.17