Add diced onion with oil to an eight-quart pot.

Sauté until onion is translucent. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant.

While onion is sauteing add carrots and celery to a blender with three cups of water. Blend until smooth.

Add carrot-celery mixture to the pot with five more cups of water.

Add both tubes of soup mix to the pot (excluding the spice mix).

Cook for one and a half hours on low until the beans and barley are really soft.

Add the spice and pasta mix and cook for five more minutes. Add salt to taste.