Bubbe's Barley and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, about (Not olive oil,please I use rapeseed oil)
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled&diced (I use white English potatoes)
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, sliced
• 1 cup pearl barley (weighs about a 100 grams)
• 2 liters vegetable stock (my gran made her own, I use vegetable grannules, about half a spoon)
• salt and pepper

to serve

• chopped fresh dill (optional)
• soft butter, diced
• fresh ground black pepper

Directions

1. 1

   sweat the onions and the carrots in vegetable oil.

2. 2

   when they are soft add the garlic just for a few seconds.

3. 3

   (you'll know when you're ready to go to the next step when it starts to smell "garlicky").

4. 4

   add the potatoes and barley and enough water to cover.

5. 5

   (if the veges are soft enough the water should be orange).

6. 6

   bring to boil.

7. 7

   reduce heat,cover and cook for 1 hour.

8. 8

   if you're using stock cubes or grannules rather than home made stock- add it now with salt&pepper to taste (omit salt if you're going to serve it with salted butter).

9. 9

   cook for 1/2 hour and check if they barley and veg are soft enough.

10. 10

    serve soup in a bowl.

11. 11

    put a small piece of soft butter on top.

12. 12

    ground some pepper on top.

13. 13

    and sprinkle some freshly chopped dill if you like.