Best Barley Soup

Ingredients

• 5 slices turkey bacon
• 1/2 pound sliced mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 red onion chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 8 cups fat-free chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 2 cups chopped Louisiana yams (sweet potatoes)
• peeled and cut into small cubes
• 3/4 cup medium pearl barley

Instructions

1. In large nonstick pot, cook bacon until crisp, Remove to paper towels, crumble, set aside,
2. In same pot coated with nonstick cooking spray, saute mushrooms, garlic, and onion until tender about 7 minutes,
3. Add thyme, broth, bay leaf, carrots, sweet potatoes and barley, Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and cook 25 minutes or until barley and vegetables are tender.
4. Season to taste, remove bay leaf.
5. If too thick, add more broth.
6. To serve, sprinkle with crumbled bacon.