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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Reviewed: Apr. 19, 2007

I tried it as specified without changing it and I find that it was too mushy. Since then, I've not added rice or pasta. But added vegetables (carrots, cabbage, onions, celery). And different kinds of beans. Make for a complete healthy meal.

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SHORTCUTCOOK

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Reviewed: Apr. 14, 2007

A nice, homemade gift when topped with a fabric square, tied with a ribbon and attached recipe. I gave this to friends for Christmas and it was a hit.

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MYMAGICWORD

Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Chicago, Illinois, USA

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Reviewed: Feb. 24, 2007

This is both beautiful to give and delicious to eat. The soup is something different than most people make in a hurry, but making the mix ahead provides people a chance to have a fun new meal with not much work.

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JENORA

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Feb. 10, 2007

I'm sorry, I followed the recipe exactly and just didn't find this soup at all flavorful. Because of all the great reviews, I will try it again, but this time I will follow others suggestions by using 14 oz of diced and seasoned tomatoes (rather than 28 oz), a can of tomato sauce (rather than paste), a package of dry onion soup mix (rather than the minced onion), and double either the rice or pasta, (stead of using both).

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TANDAPHILLIPS

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Feb. 8, 2007

I received this as a gift from my sister and it was fabulous!! Not only does it look pretty in the jar but it taste wonderful! Instead of putting beef granules in the jar my sister instructed to make soup with 10 cups of beef stock instead of 10 cups of water (saved her money). I simply dissolved 10 beef bouillon cubes in 10 cups of water. I used ground turkey instead of ground beef and used a can of tomato soup instead of the tomato paste. My husband and 6-year-old LOVED it... they both had seconds and my husband begged me to get the recipe so we can make it again.

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Melissa Jeanne

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Franklin Grove, Illinois, USA

Living In: Clinton, Illinois, USA

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Reviewed: Jan. 18, 2007

A friend of mine gave me a jar of this soup for a gift. It was really good! My family is not big on soup, but they went back for seconds! Now, I'm on-line getting the recipe because my husband asked that we make it again! There's not many ground beef soups that I've found, this one is easy and very good.

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M. D. Platz

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Reviewed: Jan. 16, 2007

I have made for several bake sales. Its easy to do ahead. I have put in a basket with Jar mixes of cookies and bread as well.

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SASSIBLD

Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Wittenberg, Wisconsin, USA

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Reviewed: Jan. 11, 2007

I gave this out as gifts this year and my goodness, what a reception! This soup is wonderful. It looks nice in the jars and tastes sooo good. The baskets had this soup mix, the can of tomatoes, the tomato sauce, a big ladle, and a package of corn bread. Every thing they'd need except the meat. (I filled in with some other little homemade treats.) It made up a very nice basket. Everyone loved them. Thanks for a truly wonderful post. I will surely be using this again!

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LREYNAL

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Dallas, Texas, USA

Living In: Wills Point, Texas, USA

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Reviewed: Jan. 3, 2007

YUMMY!!! Not only is this soup tasty, but it's easy to make as well. Plus, everything was right on the mark. It was seasoned just right, the cooking time was perfect (which surprised me, I thought the lentils and peas would still be slightly undercooked). It was also a beautiful, and very inexpensive, gift (thanks to the person who suggested recycling Classico spaghetti jars-- just the right size, and a classier look than Kern jars-- just bought new lids. (I gave this jar of soup along with a Pampered Chef jar opener for teacher gift, so they got one thing to enjoy, and one to last -- both made at least one night in the kitchen easier) Our family enjoyed this soup for all it offered. Sincere thanks for sharing.

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princessmama

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Diamond Bar, California, USA

Living In: Gardnerville, Nevada, USA

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Reviewed: Jan. 2, 2007

This soup was so good! I substituted ground turkey instead of beef and used one can of tomatoes. Perfect!

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ddcmommy

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Dec. 7, 2006

This soup is delicious! I will definitely make these as christmas gifts! I made a few changes to the recipe: Used 1x14.5oz can chopped tomatoes (like others suggested), used 1/4 cup onion soup mix instead of onion flakes, substituted garlic salt instead of garlic powder, and used bite size flank steak/chopped steak instead of ground beef. No added salt or seasoning needed once all done! Great fast and easy recipe!

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surf's up

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Oct. 22, 2006

The flavor of this soup is great, but the split peas take much longer than everything else to cook. I suggest using another lentil instead. Make sure to add the macaroni at the end, as it takes very little cooking time.

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204

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Reviewed: Oct. 17, 2006

This makes a pretty presentation for Christmas and is a nice alternative to sweet gifts. My husband particularly loves the soup and we eat it year round.

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ITM100

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Apr. 14, 2006

This is great soup and cheap to make!! I will be making the soup jars as gifts for Christmas this year!! Thanks for sharing...

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CHRISTI

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Reviewed: Mar. 25, 2006

I made this up and gave it out in jars. It was very pretty and it tastes great. For my taste, I would decrease the barley and use tomato sauce in place of the tomatoes and paste.

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ROSALIE PALADEAU

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Chinook, Alberta, Canada

Living In: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Reviewed: Feb. 24, 2006

A wonderful comfort food for a cold winter day.

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a moss

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Reviewed: Jan. 29, 2006

This soup was so good! My three year old asked for seconds! I followed other reviewer's advice and added fresh minced garlic, 1/4 cup rice and a 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes. The leftovers were even tastier! I served this with parmesan cheese and crescent rolls. I will definitely make this again, and share it with friends!

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SHAWNABALLARD

Cooking Level: Beginning

Home Town: Hemet, California, USA

Living In: Patrick Afb, Florida, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 29, 2005

My family loves this soup! I, too, add 1 tsp. of chili powder and add whatever small pasta I have on hand.

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MRSPEACOCK

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Reviewed: Dec. 21, 2005

I tried this recipe before giving it as Christmas gifts and both my husband and I agreed that it was yummy! It does make a lot so plan on freezing some or I just took it for lunch all week with some Italian bread. I followed other people's recommendations and used less rice, added chili powder, used tomato sauce instead of paste and included elbow macaroni. My mason jars were too big and I had to fill the extra room with tissue paper but they still turned out really cute! Thanks for this great recipe, I can't wait to give them out.

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