Ground Beef and Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 4 cups of chopped broccoli (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup of cup chopped mushrooms (canned or fresh)
• ¼ cup of chopped celery
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, diced
• 6 cups of tomato juice
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon of basil
• 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Drain any excess fat from the meat. Place the meat and all other ingredients in your slow cooker. Cover, and cook on low for 7-10 hours.
Variation: Add a bag of frozen mixed vegetables if you would like more veggies in your soup. You can also add a can of drained garbanzo beans just before serving for additional protein