Step 1

Heat butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add carrots, celery, and shallot or onion, season with homemade seasoned salt and pepper, then saute for 3 minutes. Place a lid on top then cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic then saute until very fragrant, 1-2 minutes.

Step 2

Turn heat up to medium-high, add ground beef, season with more seasoned salt and pepper, then break it up as it cooks. If there is a lot of extra fat in the pot you can either scoop it out now with a spoon, or skim it off the top of the soup later.

Step 3

Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT potatoes then turn heat to high to bring soup to a bubble. Add potatoes then turn heat down to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. (You may put a lid on the pot near the end to help the potatoes soften if they’re taking too long.) Remove bay leaf then scoop soup into bowls and serve.