Two (Or Three) Mushroom Barley Soup

NOTE: lots! (I like the ordinary kind we get here in Minnesota, plus portobello cut thin and nice and my personal favorite, those black Chinese mushrooms...mmm...yummy flavor. Also, if you have any of these left over, whip up some mushroom gravy for Sunday comfort food. But maybe that is just a Minnesota thing :)) This is for Karen, who was requesting barley soup recipes. I fell in love with this soup for several reasons and I actually brought it for lunch today. One of the reasons I fell in love with it was because you can do anything to this soup and it is always amazing. I dont even really have a recipe anymore; I just throw in whatever I have. There are a few things I prefer to have in there, though. Put onion in 1/2 broth and saute. Add garlic after 5 minutes or so. Add the rest of mushrooms & veggies plus 1/2 cup more broth. Let cook for 10-20 minutes or so and add the barley, more broth and spices as appropriately. I really vary the amounts I make. There are only two of us, so I make it in small batches. Also, my SO really likes the barley over everything else, so my soups are generally barley heavy. I agree with you that it is terrific. I hope you dont mind the casual style of the recipe. If this drives you crazy, I can get the exact amounts in the original from my mom. But dont worry! You cannot harm this soup! Posted to fatfree digest V97 #286 by JHEINEMAN@PILLSBURY.COM on Dec 5, 1997