I went to visit my friend the other day and she was having company for dinner. In a pot on the stove was a yummy mushroom, bean and barley soup.
The recipe is Bonnie Stern's but my friend had found it in her Soup Sisters cookbook. Check out the Soup Sisters website to find out about this inspiring organization. http://www.soupsisters.org
I have looked for the link to this recipe on Bonnie Stern's website and could not find it so I am including the link from Soup Sisters.
I came home and made the soup the next day
I soaked the dried mushrooms and barley overnight in the fridge. Soaking the barley is not necessary but it gives a clear soup if it is soaked. Drain off the water from the barley before using. The recipe says to use the water from the mushrooms...which I hadn't read so I just dumped it out. ..but it would add flavour to the broth if used so next time I won't toss it out and will add it to the soup.
I used a mushroom broth instead of the chicken broth.
I served it up hot and steamy and it was really delicious.
Murray added some truffle salt to his, since he loves truffle salt and adds it to practically everything he eats :)