For a Chilly Afternoon: Vegetarian Bean Soup

It was spring like here but now the temperatures are plunging as they sometimes do in late winter just before spring. Afternoons can be chilly and rainy. This soup can warm you up nicely.

Ingredients:

    1/2 onion, diced
    2 ribs celery, diced
    2 carrots, diced
    any other vegetables desired, 1/2 cup each
    2 tbsp olive oil
    8 cups  vegetable broth, low sodium optional.
    1 cup pearled barley, uncooked
    1 cup pinto or white beans, pre-soaked then if they are dry, or use canned and drained ones.
    1/3 cup  crushed tomatoes
    1/4 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp pepper
     1/4 tsp of celery salt, but this is optional.
    1/2 tsp basil

Adjust the spices to your own taste, make it spicy or plain.  I like to add cheese to it too and I love the taste of Romano or fresh Parmesan. Hard Italian sharp cheese grated in is also nice.

It's nice on a chilly day for lunch and its good for you as well.
If you like meat , you can add if you like or use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth.