Venus de Milo Soup

1 pound ground beef

1 small onion, minced

1 teaspoon minced garlic

½ (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 envelope onion soup mix

2 beef bouillon cubes

1 bay leaf

1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables

2 quarts water

⅔ cup orzo pasta

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Cook the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain as much fat from the beef as possible. Add the onion and garlic to the beef; cook and stir until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, onion soup mix, beef bouillon cubes, bay leaf, mixed vegetables, and water to the ground beef mixture. Raise heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir the orzo pasta into the boiling liquid; cook until the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to serve.