Here’s another experiment that turned out really well. I watched a cooking show on how to integrate more grains into our diet. I once had a Quinoa salad that was so delicious, I decided to try this. . .though it doesn’t have quinoa in this recipe.
I cooked a full pound of barley in water with a little salt until it was tender/chewy. I did it on the stove top, but will do it in my small pressure cooker from now on. It took about 40 minutes of boiling on the stove top.
The cooking show advocated stirring it into spaghetti sauce, chili, etc. It has very little flavor, but it does have a pleasant, interesting consistency.
Here’s the recipe that has been requested by everybody who has tried the salad.

3 cups cooked barley
1/2 can of olives, chopped
1/2 green pepper finely chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
2 cups (plus or minus) finely shredded cabbage
1/2 small onion, minced (green onion is good,too)
(opt) 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Sometimes I toss in some chopped nuts, and though for the potluck at the church today, I forgot the raisins, they’re yummy in there, too. About a handful.
I’ve dressed it with a lite ranch dressing, but the lite popppy seed salad dressing is my favorite. Throw in some chicken and you have a full meal. Very tasty and interesting.

Comment on the chocolate orange cake. . .If you aren’t worried about baking gluten free, (I’m not when I don’t have my allergic daughter-in-law to consider,) I’m going to cut corners and use a chocolate cake mix, cook and puree the oranges the way described in the previous post and cut the water and oil in half. Bake as otherwise directed. But it’s pretty darn yummy made from scratch too.

Beth’s Poor Man Delicious Granola
Honey is too expensive to justify adding enough to make the granola really good, so here’s a smarter and just as delicious recipe. (And it’s gluten free!)
In a large roaster, mix 15 cups of quick rolled oats,
 half a package of coconut (about 6 oz)
 a handful of nuts.
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Some people like to add other grains. . .knock yourself out!
In a small saucepan, mix
1 1/2 cups corn syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar,
1 cup oil.
boil for about 5 minutes and add a tablespoon of vanilla
  Pour syrup over oats and mix until well blended. I separate the granola onto two pans to hurry the toasting. I toast in a 300 oven for an hour, stirring well every 15 minutes.
Add about 12 oz of raisins or other dried fruit AFTER the granola is toasted. I store it back in the oatmeal boxes.
YUMMY!