Crockpot Vegetable Soup with Potatoes

Yesterday was cold and rainy in Southern California - exactly as the weather should be during these winter months. It was a perfect day to fire up the crockpot and fill it with a hearty vegetable soup for dinner. This one is ridiculously easy and quite tasty.

There's nothing quite like the smell of soup cooking to make a person feel warm and nurtured. The winds may howl, the rain may come in driving sheets and you may walk outside and feel cold to the bone but, just knowing there's a hot soup on the stove makes everything all right.

CROCKPOT VEGETABLE SOUP WITH POTATOES

1 lb. hamburger, browned, seasoned and drained
2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
2 carrots, sliced and or cubed
2 onions, sliced or cubed
2 potatoes diced
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
12 oz. V8 vegetable juice
1 1/2 to 2 cups sliced celery
2 tsp. beef stock concentrate or 2 beef bouillon cubes
2-3 cups freezer vegetables of your choice (I used corn and peas)

Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low 12 hours or on high 4-6 hours.