Leftover Roast Beef and Vegetable Soup

I never intended to write this recipe as a post, but when this throw-together leftover soup was so good, I knew I had to.  I had a nice size piece of leftover roast beef that we just weren't finishing in the fridge so I decided to make this leftover makeover recipe for dinner last night and we loved it.  

One thing I love about making soup is how forgiving it is.  You could substitute your meats and vegetables in this soup and try different combinations to use what you have on hand and clean out your fridge.  A great way to reduce food waste.  

To start this soup, I sauteed onion, mushrooms, and garlic in a little olive oil to tenderize and caramelize.  I ended up adding a little butter when I thought it needed it.  Then I added the rest of the ingredients and continued to cook over a medium heat until soup started to bubble.  I then reduced heat to a simmer and continued to cook for 25-30 minutes.  

Easy, healthy and delicious soup perfect for busy weeknights and a great way to use up leftovers and reduce your food waste.  Which will save you money too.  The less food you waste, the more money you will save.  

Note:  If you do not have leftover roast, you could use beef for stew or ground beef or venison.  You would need to brown the meat first with the onion, mushrooms, and garlic.  If you are using beef for stew instead of leftover roast, you may need to simmer longer to make sure meat is tender.  

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Ingredients:
2-3 T. olive oil
1 onion, diced
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, chopped 
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. butter (if you need it while sauteing)
1-2 pounds leftover beef roast, cubed
1 can 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes
1 bag (10-16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables
1 quart (4 cups) vegetable or beef broth
2 cups water
1 tsp. creole seasoning (We like Tony Chachere's)
Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

​1.  Saute onion, mushrooms, and garlic adding a little butter for flavor as needed in a dutch oven or large pot.  Cook until vegetables tenderize and caramelize a little.  
2.  Add beef, diced tomatoes, mixed vegetables, broth, water, and seasonings.  Bring to a low bubble, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes (20-30) to blend flavors.   

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Yum

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