CHEESY ONION, BROCCOLI, MUSHROOM, PEPPER & BARLEY BAKE

CHEESY ONION, BROCCOLI, MUSHROOM, PEPPER & BARLEY BAKE
Serves 4, adapted from Joanne at Eats Well with Others

2/3 cup barley
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp salt
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 large broccoli crown
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 chili pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 egg
1 lb part-skim ricotta
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
salt & pepper

• Cook the barley in the water and salt until tender.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Quarter onions. Mince garlic. Wash and chop mushrooms and broccoli into bite side pieces. Wash the peppers, core them, and cut them into small dice. Mince the chili pepper.
• Mix the ricotta with the egg.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic, onions, broccoli and peppers until soft.
• Add mushrooms and continue cooking just until mushrooms are slightly sauteed. Add salt along the way. Salt at the beginning and at the end and at every step in-between. Just a little bit each time. It brings out the best flavor in things.
• Add the basil, oregano, and white pepper.
• Mix together the barley, onion, mushroom & pepper mix with the ricotta & egg mix. Spread into an 11x7 pan. Sprinkle with the cheeses.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the egg is set and cheese has melted.
• Let stand for 5 minutes to set. Cut and eat.