Also, try these other beef soups favorites - Vegetable Beef Soup, Slow Cooker Beef Stew, Hamburger Soup, and that childhood classic Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup. You can never have too many soup recipes!

My favorite thing to end a cold day with at dinner time is a steaming bowl of soup, like this hearty beef barley soup.

Beef and Barley Soup Video

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I've been through the list of soups and made what seems like every kind out there, but that's just the great thing about soup. The possibilities are endless.

This homemade classic is one that once you try it fresh, you'll never be able to eat it canned again. But that goes for just about any other soup too, right?

There's just something about all those ingredients simmering together building up flavor, and serving it warm for sipping that creates a cozy dish like no other.

And this one has a great blend of textures as well, with the tender beef and veggies, chewy barley and the base of runny broth. It's a mouthful of goodness and satisfying, beefy flavor!

I know what you're thinking. This is totally a fall and winter salad. Well, that is true but I crave salads like this all year long, so if I can find the good quality, fresh produce they need then I'm still making them all year long. I mean we should be serving a sweet potato dish of some kind at least once or twice a month all year right? I love every last ingredient in this salad and how well it all comes together, both in texture and flavor. It's such a satisfying salad and I love the way the creamy lime dressing pairs with everything here, I also can't get enough of all the gorgeous natural colors in this salad!

Shaved Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Salad

I made the simple salad dressing used here with the new Best Foods Organic Mayonnaise (note that this product is also labeled as Hellman's Organic Mayonnaise in some areas. Same product, different name). I love that this mayonnaise is made with ingredients I can trust, I also love that it's made with organic cage-free eggs! I started buying cage-free eggs about eight months ago so I was so happy to see a mayonnaise that's made with cage-free eggs as well. There are several new Hellman's Mayonnaises now available at Walmart so be sure to keep an out for them so you can try them yourself! There's Hellman's Organic Spicy Chipotle Mayonnaise, Organic Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise, the Organic Original Mayonnaise and there's also an egg-free version which is the Hellman's Carefully Crafted Dressing and Sandwich Spread. I haven't tried them all yet but I'm sure that will change in no time!

Summer or Holiday Salad Recipe

This may not be one of your typical summer salad recipes, but you may as well make it anyway and surprise everyone with something out of the norm! I know if I showed up to a weekend get-together and this healthy, delicious salad was there I'd want the whole bowl to myself - forget that boring, skimpy side salad. If you are having a hard time finding pomegranate this time of year check the frozen fruit section, you may find some there or substitute dried cranberries until fall and winter roll around.

I highly recommend this delicious side dish for your holiday menu, too. Pomegranates are in season during the winter, and sweet potato give you that cozy holiday season flavor.

Chicken and Barley Soup

If you are looking to add more healthy foods to your diet, this chicken barley soup recipe is a great alternative to chicken noodle soup which tastes just as good but is a healthier option. The traditional egg noodles found in most chicken noodle soups don't have much nutrition but hulled barley on the other hand is a substitute that is perfectly good for you.

I make chicken noodle soup at my house almost every week lately so it's nice to have something I can rotate it with. I will likely even find myself making this more than the traditional chicken noodle soup. I love the texture and flavor that barley adds and how filling it makes this soup. If carbs aren't a concern, you can also add diced potatoes to bulk up this soup even more.

This would also be a great recipe to have on hand next week when you have an abundance of leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. Simply swap the chicken thighs for turkey!

Try this recipe in your slow cooker to make it even easier—just slightly increase your chicken bouillon or homemade chicken stock and fresh herbs if you plan to let it stew all day. I sometimes add a bit of red pepper and garlic powder for even more punch.