Barley

Not so many years ago dried "exotic" or wild mushrooms could be found only in fancy specialty shops, but no longer. Many good urban and suburban supermarkets now carry little packages of various varieties. And Asian markets are a great source for dried shiitake, also known as Chinese black mushrooms. The dried mushrooms are an optional addition to this soup, but they do add a deeper, woodsier flavor.

If you have cooked lamb, beef, or turkey on hand, use it instead of the chicken.

The Finns rely on cereal as one of the mainstays of their diet, since barley, rye and buckwheat grow well in their country. The barley pudding is a good substitute for potatoes, noodles or rice.

Prepare a batch of this breakfast dish and store it in the refrigerator. Then simply reheat single servings in the microwave.

Offer this hearty and satisfying salad with grilled lamb or tuna.

Marjorie Farr, Silver Spring, Md.
Use fresh spinach in this dish — frozen will not do. A sprinkle of parsley before serving adds a fresh touch.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

This recipe came to be when I was preparing risotto and realized I was out of Arborio rice; I used barley instead. The results were so delicious that I now prefer this version.

Hearty and filling, but so low-fat.

Dry-toasting the barley adds a nutty taste and helps the barley retain its texture in this excellent meatless dish.

Barley gives this a wonderful chewy texture.