Autumn Soup

Ingredients

• 12 lb ground chuck
• 12 c chopped onions
• 2 c hot water
• 34 c cut-up celery
• 34 c cut-up potatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 14 tsp pepper
• 12 bay leaf crumbled
• pinch of basil
• 3 whole fresh tomatoes stems removed

Directions

1. Brown ground chuck in heavy kettle
2. Add onions and cook 5 minutes more
3. Add remaining ingredients except tomatoes and mix thoroughly loosening the brown crustiness from bottom of kettle Bring to boil cover then simmer 20 minutes
4. Add tomatoes and if necessary more water simmer another 10 minutes