Veggie Beef Soup

After the holidays it's always good to get back to a healthier eating plan. This veggie soup is loaded with vegetables, is super easy to make in the crock pot, and it is budget friendly. For a vegetarian option leave out the beef and sub vegetable stock for the beef stock.
Vegetable Beef Soup for the Crock Pot
Andrea-Dessert First
1 pound ground beef
1 medium sweet yellow onion, diced
1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, quartered (if you like lots of potatoes add another pound)
4 carrots, cleaned and chopped
15 ounces corn frozen or canned
1 14.5 ounce can green beans
½ head green cabbage chopped
1 28 ounce can crush tomatoes
4 cups water
4 tsp beef base paste or you can use already made beef stock
1 tsp Sea salt to taste
2 tsp Course ground black pepper
2 tsp Garlic powder
2 tsp Onion powder
Directions:
Brown the ground beef, while that is cooking get you crock pot ready. I used a 6-quart size. Get it turned on the high setting so it can start warming up. Get your beef stock made and add to the crock pot. Add your diced onion to the cooked ground beef then season the beef with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder adjust to your personal tastes. Add the garlic and stir in then turn off the heat. Add the beef to the crockpot. Add the crushed tomatoes, corn, and green beans put the lid on. Clean and chop the veggies, potatoes can be quartered, some pieces might need another chop. Carrots slice in approximately ¼ inch thick slices. Onions should get a medium dice.
Drain the liquid off the canned green beans and the same if you use canned corn.
Using a large heavy bottom pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef stirring to crumble it up. When it is brown add in the diced yellow onion mix in and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add the salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder stir. Add in the carrots and potatoes then add 2 cup hot water. Cover and cook on high for one hour then drop to low and let go for about 5 hours, check for tenderness of the carrots and potatoes. Add the cabbage in and let cook for an additional hour covered. Taste, you may need to add more salt depending on your personal taste buds. If you want it soupier you can add in water until it reaches the desired consistency.