Weather for San Antonio, TX

75°F | °C

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Scattered Clouds

Wind: SE at 4 mph

Humidity: 94%

102°

75°

102°

77°

100°

73°

106°

75°

Even with the heat, the cloud cover and this blasted air conditioning makes it seem a perfect day for soup.  Thank goodness I put a pot of vegetable barley on yesterday! Stay warm ~ V

Vegetable Barley Soup

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 cup crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 red potatoes, diced
• 1 parsnip, diced
• 1 red sweet pepper, sliced
• 1/2 seeded jalapeño, finely chopped
• 2 T butter
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 cup barley
• 1/2 lentils
• 4 cups stock
• 1 cup cold water
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flake
• 1 tsp kosher salt, (or to taste ~ be careful, your stock is already seasoned)
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tsp herbes de Provence
• creme fraîche (optional), to serve

In a large stock pot, melt butter, drizzle pan with olive oil; when pan is hot, add onion, garlic, peppers and celery; sauté for 4 minutes, just until onion starts softening; add potatoes, parsnip, carrots, mushrooms, barley and lentils, stir until barley and lentils starts glistening;  add cold water, bring to boil.  Lower temperature to simmer, add hermes de Provence, pepper, red pepper flake and 1/2 tsp salt with the stock; cover with tight fitting lid; stir occasionally.  Simmer over low heat 1 hour ~ taste, adjust seasonings.  Serve with grilled flat bread, good old bread and butter or corn bread and a good dollop of creme fraiche!