scotch broth

scotch broth

When the mercury drops, I turn to hearty soups and stews.  At first glance, Scotch broth sounds more like a thin liquid to be slurped from a spoon.  But don’t be fooled by the name; this stew is thick and so satisfying.   Like most stews, it contains vegetables and meat and is thickened with barley,…

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barley salad

barley salad

As a kid and young adult, I LOVED Campbell’s condensed beef soup with barley and vegetables.  If you were to ask me what I liked most about that soup, I would have to say barley.  It has a chewy, pasta-like consistency.  The other veggies in the can didn’t hold up as well…too mushy for my…

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barley pilaf

Weeknight meal planning can be a royal pain but if you’re a busy person, it all makes good economic sense.  My daughter does her meal prep religiously and usually sends me a snapchat of what she’s made. She spends a couple of hours in an evening and that saves her time for the rest of…

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warm barley salad

Barley is one of those staple grains that sit in my pantry for the longest time and then, without rhyme or reason, I go on a barley binge!  I usually throw barley in soups or stews but recent years have seen me use it as a substitute for rice, mixed in with roasted vegetables and…

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Barley and Bacon Risotto

Stir. Stir. Stir. This is my cheats version of risotto and does not require frequent visits to the stove top.  A typical risotto recipe involves going back to the pot to stir in each ladleful of stock when the last one has been absorbed.  Although it doesn’t take long to cook (roughly 30 minutes), you…

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Quinoa Barley Salad

Spring is such a pretty time of the year with new growth, greenery, flowers and birds singing. Many will embark on a Spring cleaning campaign of their homes, open up cottages, and plant gardens all of which require a well-fueled body. This quinoa barley salad will keep you satiated for hours and give you the…

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Braised Lamb with Roast Carrot and Mixed Grains

Lamb is traditionally associated with the end of winter and so as a sign that Spring is almost here, I present to you Spring-in-a-Dish!   Braised anything in my family is very well-received and I knew this one was going to be a winner.  I made this last week and enjoyed it so much I…

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Barley Salad with Roasted Squash and Fennel

It can be a challenge keeping your kids healthy when they live at home but when they leave the nest for university or boarding schools this can be a bigger challenge. We’re happy to be back in Nova Scotia for many reasons and one of those is that Laura is able to hop on a…

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