Reviewed: Dec. 13, 2008

Great recipe for gifts. I cut the recipe in half for about 4 servings (much more manageable for smaller families). I also added a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and used Acini Di Pepe pasta instead of barley pearls.

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smeemken

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Reviewed: Dec. 7, 2008

I plan on giving this as Christmas gifts this year and tried it out tonight to see how we like it. DELICIOUS! As others suggested, I used 1 can of diced tomatoes and 1 can of tomato sauce. Otherwise, I made the recipe as written. I thought the rice and pasta worked well together and it had plenty of flavor. For myself, I may add crushed red pepper flakes and some frozen vegetables next time. For gifts, I'll make some with chicken granules. I plan on packing it in 1 qt. jars with the cans of tomatoes and sauce and a package of crackers. Put everything in a basket and add a ladle for the finishing touch. Thanks for a great recipe. I'm sure everyone will want a copy of it. :)

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Patty

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 1, 2008

This was wonderful! I tried it with both beef and chicken, and while I prefer the chicken, my family prefered the beef. I just used left over chicken, and used the chicken bouillon. Very good. My one issue was when I rinsed the peas,lentils, and barly they did not dry well which caused my bouillon to absorb the moisture in the jar. It stuck to the bottom of the jar, so I had to add more when making the soup. Also I had to buy jars and the 2 pint size worked just fine, I upped the pasta to 2/3rds cup. This makes great gifts!!1 I also used a 15 oz can of tomato sauce, and a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes.

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leahwo

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Nov. 24, 2008

Haven't actually tried this myself but I made up a bunch of jars to go in my Christmas baskets. It looked really nice layered. SO PRETTY IN 1 QUART JARS! The only thing I did different was instead of adding boulion granules, I actually placed 5 cubes of boulion squares in a plastic bag just below the plastic bag of pasta. I couldn't find the granules so this is all that I could make work. I sure hope it tastes good and not justs look pretty!!! Once I try it myself I will update.

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OhmyDLM

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Milford, Maine, USA

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Reviewed: Nov. 17, 2008

Before giving as gifts this year, I made the soup myself and it was very good. After reading many of the reviews, I also used 2 cans of tomato sauce in place of the tomato paste and one can of diced tomatoes. I also used minced garlic with the ground beef instead of garlic powder. I didn't have any pearl barley and couldn't find any at my local store so I omitted it from the recipe and slightly increased the split peas and lentils and I really don't think it made that much of a difference. Also, my personal preference is pasta in soup and not rice and I thought having both was a bit much so I also omitted the rice and increased the pasta to 1 cup. I used ditalini pasta instead of the alphabet pasta. Overall it came out great and was very quick and easy to make.

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Chele Smith

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Massapequa, New York, USA

Living In: Gray Court, South Carolina, USA

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Reviewed: Sep. 23, 2008

We made this a couple of years ago for Christmas presents and they were a huge hit. Not only does the soup taste great, it looks really impressive when layered in glass jars.

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Shekir713

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Reviewed: Sep. 22, 2008

I gave this soup last year as gifts and it was a huge success! I had several extra jars that I saved for us, but whenever I went to the pantry to pull one out, I'd found my daughter had given them all away to friends who'd had the soup and wanted to make more!

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Awetum

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Apr. 1, 2008

I haven't made this recipe in a long time but remember that I loved it!(I have too many cookbooks and recipes so I forget what I have until I come upon it) Will be making again very soon now that I found again! I gave as gifts to teachers and family and also made a batch for my family. Only changes~layer bouillon granules first on bottom of jar when giving as a gift. I used 1 pint of home canned tomatoes and 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce.

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simplesue

Cooking Level: Expert

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Reviewed: Mar. 31, 2008

I thought this was absolutely delicious, I did add extra garlic (fresh) and next time will use a different pasta then i did this time, and try with chicken instead of burger, but super easy and inexpensive.Even my sometimes picky children asked for seconds.

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CATHYLH

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA

Living In: Wheaton, Illinois, USA

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Reviewed: Feb. 1, 2008

I thought this was very good. Followed the suggestions of others reduced the tomatos to 15 oz, and instead of tomato paste, substituted 15 oz. of tomato sauce. Also reduced beef bouillon to 3 TBS. I made 25 batches for Christmas gifts. Instead of using jars, I just used quart sized zip-lock bags, and a small sandwich bag for the pasta, that fit into the quart-sized bag with everything else. I also supplied the cans of diced tomatos tomato sauce, so all they needed to buy was 1# of ground beef. I put it all in a nice gift bag, with 2 packages of corn bread mix to make and serve with the soup. A complete meal gift (except for the beef!) My friends and family loved it.

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Peg

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Reviewed: Jan. 21, 2008

This is a great recipe! We've been eating it about once a week this winter. Instead of onion flakes, I just cook a diced onion with the ground beef, skip the boullion, and double the pasta. Who would have thought my family would ENJOY split peas and lentils? We always eat it with cornbread, and I include a cornbread mix when I give it as a gift.

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rebconr

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Reviewed: Jan. 2, 2008

This recipe was great. I gave it to friends and my boss for Christmas gifts. Several asked for the ingredient list and others appreciated a healthier type of gift after so many sweets. I used the recommendations for jasmine rice and tomato sauce. I thought it could use some additional spices and vegetables but overall was pleased with the outcome.

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Lee

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Reviewed: Dec. 30, 2007

I tried this recipe before making the gifts. I cut it in half for just the two of us. It still made enough for us for two meals. Really good! Amazing flavor. To make as gifts, I cut everything in half and put it in clear bags that I got at a party shop. Tied it up with pretty ribbon, attached the directions, and gave it as Christmas gifts. For very special people, I took one of your reader's advice and made a gift basket with a 14-1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes, 8 oz. tomato sauce (I found this combination to work really well), a box of Jiffy cornbread mix, and a small loaf of cranberry bread. The only thing to add was 1/2 lb. ground beef. As I type this, I have a pot of Friendship soup simmering on the stove. It's a rainy, cold Sunday afternoon. Yum. Although I used this as Christmas gifts, it could be used so many times during the year -- especially when you have new neighbors. Suzanne

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Suzanne

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Dec. 28, 2007

Everyone we gave this to for Christmas loved it!! We will definitely make enough to keep on hand for those times when someone just needs a pick me up.

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WarTater

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Pinedale, Wyoming, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 24, 2007

Fantastic idea for housewarming and hostess gifts. All my friends loved it. I substituted ground turkey for a little less calorie - 6 WW points for 8 servings.

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LuvToCook

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Durham, North Carolina, USA

Living In: Morrisville, North Carolina, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 21, 2007

One of my favorite gifts to give at Christmas time.

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cblebrun

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Dec. 9, 2007

This is a great recipie, makes a wonderfull gift.

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ambass

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Reviewed: Nov. 29, 2007

I made this soup prior to packaging it for gifts. We were not crazy about the ground beef so I suggested leftover chicken, turkey or beef as a substitute or leaving out the meat on my recipe card. It makes a huge pot of soup and is very hearty. I also substituted rainbow twist pasta rather than alphabet for extra color in the jar.

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Claire

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Reviewed: Nov. 17, 2007

I absolutely love this recipe! My family thinks it is great also. I have some in a pot on the stove right now, as a matter of fact--great for a chilly night like tonight. I wouldn't change a thing and I also added a carrot and stalk of celery to my first batch, which just made it all the better. In tonight's batch I am going to add two carrots and a parsnip. This is just a really great recipe and I can't thank you enough. A++++++++++

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CARDINALLOVER

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Oct. 6, 2007

This was a wonderful soup. Full of great flavor and very nutritious. If you are wanting to get your kids to eat beans and barley this soup is great. My kids didn't even notice those things were in there.

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A1SAUCE3

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