Really Awesome Soup Recipe I Invented - Santa Fe Chicken and Barley Soup

Well I don't know if I invented it or not.  I bet if you googled the ingredients a recipe already exists but since I created it with random ingredients in my kitchen I am going to claim ownership of it...at least on this blog anyway!

Rudy LOVED this soup.  We are big soup people and I am always on the hunt for good recipes.  I immediately wrote this down so I could make it again.  I have made it twice now and it has been great both times.

I am going to call it Santa Fe Chicken and Barley Soup.  Because I bet people in Santa Fe eat soups like this all the time.  :)

Santa Fe Chicken and Barley Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 can tomatoes and chilies
• 1 can navy beans
• 1 can garbanzo beans
• 6 cups chicken broth (vegetable if you are vegan or vegetarian) or 6 cups water and 3 chicken bouillon cubes.
• 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 stalk of celery, finely chopped
• 1 heaping tablespoon of cumin
• 1/3 cup quick cooking barley
• 1 cup cooked chicken (leave out if your are vegan or vegetarian)

Mix all ingredients together in a large pot and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add barley and chicken and simmer for 20 minutes until barley is cooked and vegetables are tender.  Serve with corn muffins and enjoy!