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Friendship Soup
by Jes Mostek
serves: 12
  This delicious soup is fantastic for gift-giving and sharing with friends, thus the name. To give as a gift, layer all the dry ingredients in a large glass jar, cover with a lid, attach a recipe card and share with a soup-loving friend!
Ingredients:
  1/2 c.   dry split peas
  1/4 c.   beef bouillon granules
  1/4 c.   pearl barley
  1/3 c.   dry lentils
  1/4 c.   minced onions
  2 tsp.   garlic powder
  2 tsp.   Italian Seasoning
  1/2 c.   uncooked white rice
  1/2 c.   small elbow macaroni
  1 lb.   ground beef
  12 c.   water
  2 (14 oz.) cans   diced tomatoes
    salt and pepper to taste
    Parmesan cheese, optional
Directions:
  To prepare soup, fill a large pot with the 12 c. water. Add the peas, barley, lentils, rice, seasons, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Set the macaroni aside.

In a skillet or frying pan, brown the ground beef. Transfer the browned beef to the soup. Use a cup or so of the broth from the soup to the skillet to deglaze the pan. Bring this water in the skillet to a boil and scrape the bits of beef from the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the broth to the soup.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the reserved macaroni, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until macaroni, peas, lentils and barley are tender. Top each serving with grated Parmesan cheese.