Barley is an excellent staple food due to its high carbohydrates, protein, calcium and phosphorus. Pearl barley is polished so that the grain loses the husk and most of its bran. Like rice, barley can be a useful thickener for soups and stews.
Cultivation of barley began in the Middle East, originally native to Israel and Jordan.
Barley flour can be made into porridge, pizzas and unleavened bread. Having hardly any gluten, it is of little use for risen bread or in pasta.
Lentil & Barley Soup
2 chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
50 gr' butter
6 cups water
1 can tomatoes
3/4 cup brown or red lentils, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup pearl barley
6 stock cubes
salt & pepper
3 sliced carrots
Cook onion, celery and garlic in hot butter till tender. Add water, undrained tomatoes, lentils, barley, stock cubes, pepper and salt. Boil abd reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add carrots and simmer till carrots are tender.
Beef & Barkey stew
2 tabs oil
1 lb. beef chuck, cut to cubes
2 sliced onions
3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
2 cups beef stock
1 can tomatoes, undrained and chopped
1 teas paprika
1 teas cumin
salt & white pepper
up to 1 cup uncooked barley
In a pot, heat oil and add the beef and brown it on 2 sides. Remove to a plate.
Add onions, carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Add beef stock, tomatoes, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil, return beef to the pot. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for another 1hour. Stirring once or twice. Stir in barley. Cover and 1 hour, adding more water as needed until meat and barley are tender
poppy seeds cookies /lemon cake/chocolate cookies
The best Chocolate cookies , and so easy ( see pic)
3 eggs room temp.
3/4 C sugar
300 gr. chocolate (have used 200 gr' bitter and 100 gr' milk)
100 gr butter
7 big tabs self raising flour
chocolate pcs (any color)
whip 3 eggs with the sugar. melt chocolate with the butter. let cool a bit and mix it with the egg mixture. add flour.
put in papper cup (fill half) and bake for 15 min. After 10 minutes put on each cookie some chocolate pcs.
Take out from oven and pill the cups. Those cookies tend to dry quickly when it cools put in cookies jar.
Sites of the Day
http://www.cookingindex.com/recipes/
http://www.abc.net.au/ballarat/stories/s2085365.htm
Have a great weekend
Elinoar
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