Here is one I wrote up after stealing ideas from Martha and others. It turned out great.

This is the kind of soup you probably never make the same way twice, but it'll always be good.

Beef and Barley Soup

olive oil
1 pound chuck roast cubed, or other good stew meat
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 stalks celery
2 tablespoons minced garlic (from 4 cloves)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 cup dry red wine
4 cups chicken or beef stock (I used both)
3 cups water (as needed)
Frozen Italian green beans, English peas, corn, etc. to your preference (thaw in microwave)
3/4 cup hulled or pearl barley, cooked per package
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 bunch green onions, chopped

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season beef with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and brown in small batches. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon.

Reduce heat to medium. Add oil, and cook onion, carrot, and celery until golden, stirring occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add garlic and stir about 1 minute. Add tomato paste, and cook, stirring, until caramelized, about 2 minutes. Add wine. Bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits from bottom using a wooden spoon. Cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.

Return beef to pot, and add stock and water. (Can add some parsley and green onions here.) Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or until beef is getting tender. Or put in oven on about 300 (what I did) with lid on.

Cook the barley while the soup simmers.

Add green beans and other vegetables. Simmer another 30 minutes or so until done.

Transfer to stove-top if in oven. Add barley and heat for a few minutes. Stir in chopped parsley and more green onions as desired.

Notes: Could add can of tomatoes at tomato paste point. I added a little Worcestershire and Tamari. Used 1 cup barley for a double batch, and it was plenty. Used combo of beef broth and chicken broth made (weak ratio) with Better than Bullion. No plain water. Used whole package of green beans, plus 1/3 package of peas, and a little corn.