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Friday, July 11, 2008

Humble Food: Barley and Lima Beans



The last time Zach was out of town, I simply ate cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This makes for very bad "cooking for one" habits, I know, but I am blessed to have become so used to cooking for the two of us, or, better still, cooking together for the two of us or a dinner party we're hosting, that my cooking habits from the days when I did live alone seemed very distant and vague. My other, more reasonable justification for such an unvaried diet were my daily 13-hour shifts at work, which saw me skipping lunch and coming home so exhausted that I barely had the appetite even for cereal. Regardless, over the course of those 8 days, I lost more weight than was prudent, and resolved not to repeat the scenario.

At the moment, I find myself facing the situation again. Zach is fulfilling an Air Force military training obligation, and will be away from home for some time longer - 22 more days, to be exact. I miss him desperately, especially at times like now, in the evening, just after supper, when the house is very quiet and large and empty, and I am endlessly wishing he was here.

I haven't had cereal for supper once, though. In fact, I was rather proud of myself for even aesthetically plating my simple, soothing supper of barley and lima beans last night... One of those "so straightforward it's not even quite a recipe" dishes, it was every bit as nourishing and hearty as it was unfussy. So, whether you live on your own, as I once did, or occasionally find yourself on your own and missing someone, as I am right now, or simply find yourself in a Very Big Hurry, this is for you... Because I've been there. And you still need to cook supper.



Barley and Lima Beans

1 cup dry pearled barley
3 cups vegetable broth
2 T vegetable bouillon powder
2 cups lima beans
2 tsp vegan margarine OR 2 T parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

~ In a saucepan or rice cooker, stir together the barley, broth, and bouillon powder, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed.
~ Meanwhile, steam the lima beans on the stove-top or in the microwave (I microwave mine - super fast steaming!)
~ Stir the vegan margarine or Parmesan cheese into the lima beans. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
~ When the barley is cooked, scoop a serving into a bowl and pack firmly. Upend the bowl over a plate to create a barley mound on the plate.
~ Scoop up a serving of lima beans, and scatter across the barley! Ta da!

6 comments:

  1. I love the idea of molding the barley into a bowl to give it that firmly-packed look. Sounds like a terrific meal.

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  2. Seems very simple and healthy.

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  3. The photo is lovely--gorgeous little barley timbale! Sounds as if you needed some basic comfort food when you're missing your fella!

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  4. I can't get over how elegantly plated that dish is - looks to pretty to eat! :0)

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  5. I'm sorry Zack will be away for so long. That is really difficult and you work so hard. Just think that he wants to come back to someone happy and healthy, so throw in a yummy choc biscuit every now and again when you are feeling low.

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  6. ChocolateCoveredVegan, thank you so much! It's amazing how a simple meal can look festive with just a bowl and a bit of packing! :-)

    CookieMouse, simple and healthy are the best, aren't they? We could use more of both, at times, I think...

    Ricki, thank you so much! You're so right! I guess lima beans equal comfort food for me, because they were the first thing I thought of when I was feeling down! :-)

    VeggieGirl, you're too kind! Thank you!

    African Vanielje, thank you so much for your kind and very wise words...

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