What do you do with a half-pound of ground beef?

Cliff and I had a cheeseburger Saturday evening when we arrived home from our little trip to Iowa/Illinois. We still have plenty of ground beef from butchering the steer named Meatloaf. Meat lasts a long time around here, because Cliff and I try to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and eat smaller portions of meat. Even more so, now that we have the garden, not to mention the neighbor who gives us plenty of dressed catfish almost weekly.

After making our cheeseburgers, there was a half-pound or so of raw ground beef remaining. We could have had another burger, but we always stop at one these days (albeit a BIG one).

This morning while I pressure-canned some green beans, I browned the ground beef with a diced onion (from the garden) and some celery. Then I added some diced carrots that were about to die an untimely death in the crisper (otherwise known as the "rotter" around here). From the garden I added potatoes, green beans, okra, cabbage, and tomatoes. I tossed in a handful of barley, and dinner is now simmering on the stove.

From such a small amount of hamburger, we now have almost a gallon of soup.

Yes, it's awfully hot and humid outside to be having soup, but the air-conditioning is working nicely here in the house. I feel so very frugal, I could almost squeak.