Barley with Mushrooms

Just made this up cause I was craving that delicious chewiness of barley.

I just had dried mushrooms in the house, but it would be yummy with fresh. For dried I boiled some water and poured it over the mushrooms (wild mix from Trader Joe's) in a bowl, and let them hydrate in the hot water for 10 minutes or so. Fresh I would just chop up and add to barley halfway through. (And throw some chopped parsley in if you have it!)

Meanwhile I boiled the barley with veggie broth and water, about 2 to 1. I added the mushrooms when the barley had begun to expand, and then covered it. I had to add a tiny bit of water after about 10-15 mins, but after that was all absorbed and the barley was pretty done but not totally, I turned off the heat and let it sit covered while the rest of the food cooked. Then it cooked to perfection in its own steam.

Very risotto-y but with that distinctive barley texture and taste! Can't wait to eat them with the Collards and Browned Onions!