Recipes that changed my pantry -- Barley

This is the recipe that made barley a staple in my kitchen.
It is from the "More-With-Less Cookbook," a Mennonite publication from Herald Press. If you don't have the book, get it. Don't argue with me. You can get it at or through your local Christian bookstore. You can also order it from Amazon.com. I usually give this cookbook as a wedding present. Great for people just starting out.

This recipe has the added attraction of being vegetarian, and even vegan if you use margarine.
My notes are in parenthesis.

Lentil-Barley Stew

Serves 6

Saute in large pan:
1/4 c. margarine (I use butter)
3/4 c. chopped celery
3/4 c. chopped onion
(I add a garlic clove, chopped, crushed, pressed, whatever)

Add:
6 c. water
3/4 c. lentils

Cook 20 minutes. Add:
1 qt. tomatoes, canned
3/4 c. barley or brown rice
2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 t. rosemary (one sprig fresh, if you have it)
1/2 t. garlic salt (I omit this in favor of the fresh garlic)

Simmer 45-60 minutes. Add:
1/2 c. shredded carrots
Cook 5 minutes and serve. (remove the rosemary stem)

Option (for you carnivores. I have never tried it this way):
Brown 3/4 lb. boneless pork shoulder, diced, then add celery and onion and saute until golden, omitting margarine. Proceed with recipe as given.

(I make this a lot for my family, and I usually add extra barley or rice and water to make the protein more complete.)
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Ruth Update, December 27, 2006

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

We had a wonderful Christmas. My brothers, Andy and Tony, were here, and they took over my kitchen with great skill and energy. They also decided that I needed some new gadgets, so Paul's and my stockings were well-stuffed! Thanks, guys. Paul and Andy even made lefse, a flat, potato-based bread that Paul remembers from his childhood. Andy had no idea what it was supposed to be like or for, but he jumped right in. He is a professional chef, after all.

Also, I got my CA 27.29 marker results from last week today. It is elevated out of range. The number is 40, and the top of the normal range is 39. They are ordering another PET scan for me.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Love,

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com

Recipes that changed my pantry -- tomato soup

I have been considering a series of posts of recipes that changed my pantry. They didn't change my life, but instead, created in me a need to add to the staples I try to have on hand at all times.

I present for your consideration, Nebraska Homestyle Dressing. You might recognize this if you are from Nebraska or neighboring states. "Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing" is what you will find in grocery stores. Here is my version, and the three recipes upon which I based it.

Enjoy!

* Exported from MasterCook *
Nebraska Homestyle Salad Dressing
Recipe By :Ruth Provance

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 can condensed tomato soup
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt -- optional
3/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 teaspoon celery salt -- optional
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Store in refrigerator, serve on lettuce salads


Description:
"The tomato soup salad dressing, after Dorothy Lynch"
Source:
"several sources, see notes"
Yield:
"2 1/2 Cups"
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NOTES : This is drawn from three recipes I found in other cookbooks, and listed here as "Homemade French Dressing," by Irene Kaufman, "'Dorothy Lynch' Dressing" by Pam Anderson and Emma Jean Terrell, and "Home Style Dressing," by Deann Jensen. I chose the lesser amounts of oil and sugar, and the greater amounts of seasonings. The celery salt and garlic salt are listed as optional. Use them if you don't have the celery seed or garlic powder. In the other recipes, there is either one or the other.


* Exported from MasterCook *
"Dorothy Lynch" Dressing
Recipe By :Pam Anderson - Emma Jean Terrell


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup vegetable oil
3/8 teaspoon Garlic powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
Bring all ingredients to boil. Beat well and refrigerate or put in mixer and mix well - refrigerate.

Description:
"The tomato soup salad dressing, after Dorothy Lynch"
Source:
"A Book of Favorite Recipes,"
Copyright:
"1981"
Yield:
"2 1/2 Cups"
NOTES : From a community cookbook



* Exported from MasterCook *
Home Style Dressing (Dorothy Lynch Recipe)
Recipe By :Deann Jensen
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Salad Dressings
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 can condensed tomato soup
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 pinch Garlic powder
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground pepper
Blend ingredients together in mixer or blender until creamy. Store in refrigerator.

Description:
"The tomato soup salad dressing, after Dorothy Lynch"
Source:
"A Book of Favorite Recipes,"
Copyright:
"1981"
Yield:
"2 1/2 Cups"
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NOTES : From a community cookbook


* Exported from MasterCook *
Homemade French Dressing
Recipe By :Irene Kaufman
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Salad Dressings
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 soup can vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon celery seed
salt -- to taste
ground pepper -- to taste
Mix in bowl by hand
Put in bottle and shake well. 1/2 of recipe makes 1 catsup bottle
Description:
"The tomato soup salad dressing, after Dorothy Lynch"
Source:
"A Book of Favorite Recipes,"
Yield:
"2 1/2 Cups"
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NOTES : From a community cookbook

Ruth Update, December 4, 2006

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

I have hair! Yes, indeed, real hair! I look like I have just entered basic training, though. Men's basic training, where they give you a buzz cut. My scalp is still visible, though, so I am still wearing my wig. Not for long, though. The hair that has come in is pretty slick, and my wig seems to slide around. I also get a little itchy. So, be prepared for me to show up in public places without the wig. I do still need hats, though. It has been quite cold here the last few days. Gee, it feels like December!

I also have eyebrows and lashes. This is very nice. The lashes are long enough to put mascara on, but not long enough to use an eyelash curler. Not that I do either of those very often. The brows look kind of funny, since the hair is so short. I will see about getting a picture one of these days. The last one I had Matt take was so awful that I don't want to share it. I believe I will delete it off the camera, and hope it hasn't been uploaded anywhere yet!

I am seeing my oncologist once a month now. The last time, I asked them to fax me the results of my blood chemistry test. My CA 27.29 test, the cancer marker, was "in range." It was 35 U/ml. The reference range is 0-37 U/ml. Hmmmm. On July 6, it was 24. On September 7, it was 27. I am not thrilled with this creeping up, but my oncologist does not seem to be concerned. If she had called me, I would be more worried. I know that if I call her, she will tell me to keep taking the Femara, and we will see what happens. My next appointment is the Wednesday before Christmas. Do I really want to see the results on the Friday when my brother arrives from Nebraska? Should I let them stew until after Christmas? I will probably have another PET scan early next year. I guess I should just let my hair grow. My point in all of this is that I feel fine. There was no sign of cancer on the last PET scan, but please keep praying! Thanks.

I have added a "Bloglines" button to my blog. If I understand it correctly, you should be able to sign up to get messages when I update my blog. I have signed up to get messages when some of my favorite blogs update, but I am still learning how to use this service. If you know how to use it, please let me know, and post it as a comment to my blog: http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com That way, everybody else can learn to use it along with me! My plan is, eventually, to stop sending out these updates via e-mail, and just use the blog. I hope that there will be less cancer news, which is what I created this list for. The blog might include knitting and crochet projects, random rants, and recipes. This way, only people who want to read that stuff will get it. I won't bother the rest of you, who may be getting sick of me by now!

Take care. Check the blog. Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Love,

Ruth