Beef Soup...I mean Stew...I mean Casserole...

I love food coops. I will repeat... I LOVE FOOD COOPS!!!!  From what I have been told, that sentiment isn't shared throughout the country, but in my city (Phoenix) we have a bunch to choose from and I haven't been disappointed yet. This past weekend, I found Markets on the Move, which is a part of The 3000 Club. It was featured on the news and I figured I would give it a shot. With Markets on the Move, you pay $10.00 and receive up to 60lbs of produce. Basically, whatever you can haul away. They have different produce each week, and I think it's mainly vegetables but this was my first time so I'm not entirely sure. Guess I'll see next week! Anyways, it was raining yesterday and I hesitated on going, but I figured it wouldn't be as crowded with the rain, right? Well it wasn't too bad! Waited in line for 15 minutes or so and I hit the mother load!!!! I'll post the picture below but it was so cool. Everyone was so nice and happy, even though they were soaked to the bone! They also take volunteers and I think I'm going to do it to give back to the cause. But the whole idea is to keep what you can use and then give the rest to others who need it. 

 I don't think I've ever been this excited about vegetables before!!!! I was so inspired that I thought, since it was a rainy day, that I would make a soup. So I did!

 My sweet girl wanted in on the photo op as well :)

So I sought out to make soup. However, it turned more into a stew or casserole...I put quinoa and orzo in there and it soaked up the liquid...but it still turned out amazingly...It was so good. So...not a total fail, right? ;)

Beef Soup --> Stew --> Casserole :) (keep in mind, I made this up as I went along so I don't have exact measurements)

1.5 lbs ground beef

20 grape tomatoes

a combination of red, yellow, and orange peppers (i used 5)

3 zucchini

olive oil spray

garlic salt

garlic powder

onion powder

chili powder

red pepper flakes

(Spices are all to taste)

one can tomato paste

2 cans beef broth

1 box quinoa

1 box orzo pasta (this one is optional)

1. Brown beef in a large pan and add one can of beef broth and tomato paste. Let simmer while cutting veggies.

2. Chop zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. Add to crock pot.

3. Add beef mixture to crock pot. 

4. Add other can of beef broth and quinoa.

5. Add spices (and whatever other spices you like) to crock pot mixture.

6. Stir together and cook on low for 3 hours. 

7. About 30 minutes before serving, I added the orzo and it sucked up the broth. So if you want it to be more of a soup, I would leave out the orzo. But I LOVE pasta and I can't imagine this without so I'll leave that up to you.

Tastes sooo good!!! Hope you try and enjoy! I think that adding other veggies would work too. I just used what I got at MOM :)

Stay classy!