Grandma's Minestrone (Bakin Minestrone)

Sometimes my grandmother would watch cooking programs on television and say: "I can make better for cheaper," and she did! She loved using her electric roaster and slow cooker because she didn't have to stand by the stove all day. Here is her recipe for Beef Vegetable Soup that she called Minestrone. Enjoy!

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 c. beef broth

1 small can crushed tomatoes with juice
1 large can or bottle V8 or tomato juice
4 medium potatoes, diced (or 1 bag frozen Ore-Ida Diced Hash Browns) 

1 c. frozen (or canned) green beans 

1 c. frozen (or canned) corn

1 c. frozen peas

1c. Frozen lima beans
2-3 carrots, sliced or used canned sliced or diced
salt & pepper, to taste 

In a skillet cook ground beef with onion until browned and season with salt and pepper. Place cooked ground beef mixture and remaining ingredients in a large slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours or until potatoes are fork-tender. The smaller you dice the potatoes, the quicker they will cook. 

NOTE:  If you do not want to use a slow cooker (or want to whip it up quickly), brown beef/onion in a large pot or Dutch oven and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. 

You can use a bag of frozen mixed vegetables as well instead of all the separate vegetables