Slow Cooker Old-Fashioned Beef and Noodle Soup

Old-Fashioned Beef and Noodle Soup

2 onions, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
6 cups beef broth
1/2 pound sliced baby Bella mushrooms
3 carrots, peeled and sliced 3/4 inch 
2 ribs celery, chopped medium
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 pound beef blade steak
Salt and pepper
3 ounces wide egg noodles (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1. Microwave onions, garlic, tomato paste, oil, and thyme in a bowl, stirring occasionally until onions are softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to slow cooker. 

2. Stir broth, mushrooms, carrots, celery, soy sauce, and bay leaves into slow cooker. Cover and cook until beef is tender, 9 to 11 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high. 

3. Transfer beef to cutting board, let cool slightly, then shred into bite-size pieces. Let soup settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using a large spoon. Discard bay leaves.  Cook egg noodles in salted boiling water until tender, then drain. Stir cooked noodles and shredded beef into soup and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.