Barley Risotto

I ate a barley risotto at The Wild Grape in Salt Lake.  It was terribly delicious.  So, I searched online and found a recipe.  It doesn't really taste much like the one from the restaurant, but it is still delectable. This was my first experience with celery root, which I like very much.

Ingredients
6 C. Chicken Broth
2 Sprigs thyme (or 1 TBSP dried)
2 Medium carrots, sliced
1 1/2 lb. celery root, peeled, cubed 3/4"
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cubed 3/4"
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 TBSP. butter
1 1/2 C. pearl barley
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 C. dry white wine, optional
1 C. Parmesan cheese, grated

Method
Preheat oven to 425.  Toss vegetables with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Spread out on baking sheet. Roast until just tender, but not mushy. Set aside

Combine broth and thyme in a saucepan, bring to a simmer

Heat butter in a large saute pan. Add barley garlic and onion.  Cook, stirring frequently until onion softens and you can hear the barley start popping (about 5 min)  Add white wine, stir constantly until all liquid is absorbed.  Add broth 1 cup at a time (strain if using dried thyme), stirring until almost all liquid is absorbed.  If you run out of broth, you may need to use simmering water until barley is tender.  When barley is tender, add roasted vegetables and parmesan cheese.  The consistency should be a little soupy, but not runny.  Add extra parmesan at the table to serve.  Good with garlic bread.

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

I have been on a fresh squeeze lemonade kick that last few days.  I go through this phase often, especially during the summer when fresh peaches and berries abound.

1 1/2 C. fresh lemon juice (4-6 lemons usually), strained
2 C. sugar
2 C. water
8-10 C. additional cups water, to taste
ice cubes
1 C. fresh or frozen peaches, strawberries, raspberries or whatever else you want to try, optional


In small sauce pan, boil water and sugar to make a simple syrup.  Allow to cool for a bit.  Add lemon juice, simple syrup and the extra water, tasting as you add the additional water.  Add ice. Serve

To make it flavored lemonade. Either add fruit to simple syrup as it is boiling, or blend fruit with lemon juice.