A healing soup for the winter!

It's a fact that colds and the flu are more prevalent during the cold months of the year. Staying healthy during the holidays can be a challenge as the crowds are larger and the parties more frequent. This year (2015) has seen a flu outbreak that the CDC has described as an epidemic, so anything you can do to keep healthy is worth a shot!

I believe a good bowl of hot soup can do wonders for boosting a person's immune system, and this recipe for a homemade vegetable beef soup is also simple, fast and inexpensive! Here's the ingredients list:

¼ lb beef, cubed

1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes

1 15 oz can green beans

¼ cup celery, chopped

¼ cup onion, chopped

1 med potato, peeled and cubed

2 carrots, peeled and sliced

½ tsp dried basil

1 tsp olive oil
1 cup water

salt and pepper to taste

1 dash of cayenne pepper

Add olive oil to a covered pot over medium high heat. Add the cubed beef and braise for a few minutes to brown. Reduce the heat and add the rest of the ingredients, cover and simmer over medium heat for about 60 minutes or until the vegetables are fork tender. Serves 4-6.