Hearty Hamburger Soup

1 medium chopped onion
1 pound lean ground beef (try venison or turkey)
1 – 28 ounce can tomato juice or canned tomatoes
2 cans beef broth
4 cups water
4 sliced carrots
2-4 stalks sliced celery
½ tsp DRIED PARSLEY
1 ½ tsp THYME
10 WHOLE PEPPERCORNS
½ cup pearl barley

In a Dutch oven or soup pot, brown beef and onion until brown. Skim off fat before adding the rest of the ingredients. Simmer for 1 ½ hours.