Occasionally when I was a child, my Mum would make a stew and put pearl barley in it. Every time, my Dad would make a joke about Pearl Barley and Pearl Bailey. That gifted American singer was born in 1918 at the end of WW1, she died in 1990. She had a long and varied career - on Broadway, on TV, providing voices for Disney animations. She was a personal friend of many US Presidents and their wives. Gerald Ford made her a Special Ambassador to the UN, Richard Nixon appointed her as an "Ambassador of Love", Ronald Reagan gave her the Presidential medal of Freedom. She won many awards, and was friends with politicians and performers.
Pearl Barley, on the other hand is processed barley which has been polished to remove its outer coating. It is also known as pot barley and Scotch Barley. It is hearty and filling, a good source of fibre. I bought a pack in the supermarket the other day. It takes an hour to cook on the hob, but only 30minutes in my rice cooker in the microwave. I sometimes put it in a casserole. We both enjoy this as an alternative to rice, it works out around 6p a serving - and it is produced in the UK. And it works well cooked and cold in a salad too. Healthy and thrifty and tasty! I think few people remember Pearl Bailey now, but here's Elkie Brooks with her debut chart single from 1977, about another singing Pearl. Elkie is 81 now, and currently doing her farewell tour this year!
Do you remember Pearl Bailey? Do you ever cook with Pearl Barley?
That takes me back! I used to make a delicious and simple meal when we were first married from a packet of soup mix (barley and lentils and driesld beans and oats, I think) and onion and some scrag end of neck of lamb. I just put the whole lot into a pyrex casserole, poured in hot chicken stock to cover everything and left it in the oven (180 probably, before fan ovens were a thing) for an hour or so. I don't think scrag end of neck is so easy to find- wasn't there a problem with scrapie in sheep? I also used to make lemon barley to drink because my husband liked it so much.
I used to buy that soup mix too - adding onions, carrots, potatoes [and a bit of meat when we could afford it] I had forgotten about lemon barley water. Always drunk by tennis players [But Robinsons no longer sponsor Wimbledon!]
Thank you Angela, a post to remind us of a wonderful woman and US presidents who valued culture. I use pearl barley frequently. As well as a substitute for rice I often split a recipe for lentils (Delia’s sausage casserole for instance) with half pearl barley and half lentils as I find it picks up more of the flavour. Jill x
I don't remember the singer. My mum used to put pearl barley in her stews when we were children and I didnt like it. However, my sister dies a delicious pearl barley salad with mint and pomegranate seeds which is delicious and refreshing so I've eaten that at hers. Apart from that, I don't think I've ever cooked with it!
I do remember Pearl Bailey, what an interesting life she must have lead. I also still eat pearl barley. It was a real staple growing up as it was cheap, nutritious and tasty. We had it mostly in stews and soups as a "filler". My eldest son makes a sort of risotto dish with it which is very good. Regards Sue H
I remember seeing Pearl Bailey on TV. My mother used to boil barley and my daughter loved to eat it. In fact, we bought a packet of barley from the Sri Lankan store, last month, to boil (but, I haven't cooked it, yet).
When I was doing my 'O' level cookery. I asked my Nana for her recipe for Scotch Broth for.my starter. She said 'mind don't put too much barley in it or else it'll be too thick'. By the time the soup was ready and out in the bowl for the tester, the spoon stood up in the mixture by itself! Should have listened to Nana! I found my old concert ticket from 1976 when I went to see Elkie in Edinburgh..I'll never forget the lovely Jewish song she sang at her encore (in a rather beautiful bohemian dressing gown!). She was here last year but I was unable to go. I believe it was a great night though.
I had never heard of Pearl Bailey, I have only ever added pearl barley to a soup when it was in a soup mix, and I used to love the music of Elkie Brookes. She was who I thought of when I saw your blog post title on my sidebar.
The fact that pearl barley is so cheap and produced in this country makes a compelling case for using it more often - I’ll be buying a pack. Thanks for the Elkie Brooks reminder, can’t believe she’s 81! Alison in Devon x
My grandmother always put pearl barley in her beef stew. I have her brown stew pot which must be at least 90 years old and still use it occasionally, although I had completely forgotten pearl barley! I have seen Elkie Brooks several times over the decades. She always puts on a great show and I have to say....what a frock! I used to have one like that back in the 70's that I made myself. It would not be very forgiving for the more mature figure but I felt great in it back then!
I remember Pearl Bailey and I remember Lemon Barley water. I haven't used it in cooking except in a soup mix, but I will look out for it as I like the idea of using it as an alternative to rice.
Like my Granny I used pearl barley to eke out soups and casseroles when we were first married and broke! I remember seeing Pear Bailey on TV, but I don't know much about her, I shall have to consult Wikipedia. Xx
That takes me back! I used to make a delicious and simple meal when we were first married from a packet of soup mix (barley and lentils and driesld beans and oats, I think) and onion and some scrag end of neck of lamb. I just put the whole lot into a pyrex casserole, poured in hot chicken stock to cover everything and left it in the oven (180 probably, before fan ovens were a thing) for an hour or so. I don't think scrag end of neck is so easy to find- wasn't there a problem with scrapie in sheep?
ReplyDeleteI also used to make lemon barley to drink because my husband liked it so much.
I used to buy that soup mix too - adding onions, carrots, potatoes [and a bit of meat when we could afford it] I had forgotten about lemon barley water. Always drunk by tennis players [But Robinsons no longer sponsor Wimbledon!]
DeleteThank you Angela, a post to remind us of a wonderful woman and US presidents who valued culture.
ReplyDeleteI use pearl barley frequently. As well as a substitute for rice I often split a recipe for lentils (Delia’s sausage casserole for instance) with half pearl barley and half lentils as I find it picks up more of the flavour.
Jill x
That is a Very Good first sentence!!! I like the half&half idea. I'll check out Delia online
DeleteI don't remember the singer. My mum used to put pearl barley in her stews when we were children and I didnt like it. However, my sister dies a delicious pearl barley salad with mint and pomegranate seeds which is delicious and refreshing so I've eaten that at hers. Apart from that, I don't think I've ever cooked with it!
ReplyDeleteYou are too young to remember PB! Your sister's salad sounds good. I have been re reading my Ottolenghi cookbooks. He uses pomegranates A LOT
DeleteI do remember Pearl Bailey, what an interesting life she must have lead. I also still eat pearl barley. It was a real staple growing up as it was cheap, nutritious and tasty. We had it mostly in stews and soups as a "filler". My eldest son makes a sort of risotto dish with it which is very good. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI imagine it would be a delicious risotto. The texture of cooked PB is lovely
DeleteI remember seeing Pearl Bailey on TV.
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to boil barley and my daughter loved to eat it. In fact, we bought a packet of barley from the Sri Lankan store, last month, to boil (but, I haven't cooked it, yet).
It is a very wholesome grain
DeleteWhen I was doing my 'O' level cookery. I asked my Nana for her recipe for Scotch Broth for.my starter. She said 'mind don't put too much barley in it or else it'll be too thick'. By the time the soup was ready and out in the bowl for the tester, the spoon stood up in the mixture by itself! Should have listened to Nana!
ReplyDeleteI found my old concert ticket from 1976 when I went to see Elkie in Edinburgh..I'll never forget the lovely Jewish song she sang at her encore (in a rather beautiful bohemian dressing gown!).
She was here last year but I was unable to go. I believe it was a great night though.
Fifty years ago - and she's still touring!! Wish I had that energy
DeleteIn the days when I made casseroles I often put pearl barley in, very filling!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI had never heard of Pearl Bailey, I have only ever added pearl barley to a soup when it was in a soup mix, and I used to love the music of Elkie Brookes. She was who I thought of when I saw your blog post title on my sidebar.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good store cupboard standby
DeleteThe fact that pearl barley is so cheap and produced in this country makes a compelling case for using it more often - I’ll be buying a pack.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Elkie Brooks reminder, can’t believe she’s 81!
Alison in Devon x
I hope you enjoy it, it is so versatile
DeleteMy grandmother always put pearl barley in her beef stew. I have her brown stew pot which must be at least 90 years old and still use it occasionally, although I had completely forgotten pearl barley!
ReplyDeleteI have seen Elkie Brooks several times over the decades. She always puts on a great show and I have to say....what a frock! I used to have one like that back in the 70's that I made myself. It would not be very forgiving for the more mature figure but I felt great in it back then!
I suspect we all had frocks 'back in the day' which we wouldn't wear now!
DeleteI remember Pearl Bailey and I remember Lemon Barley water. I haven't used it in cooking except in a soup mix, but I will look out for it as I like the idea of using it as an alternative to rice.
ReplyDeleteIt is not expensive
DeleteLike my Granny I used pearl barley to eke out soups and casseroles when we were first married and broke! I remember seeing Pear Bailey on TV, but I don't know much about her, I shall have to consult Wikipedia. Xx
ReplyDelete👍
ReplyDeleteI did look her up, she got a degree in Theology at Georgetown University, but it took her 7 years. Xx
ReplyDeleteThat is perseverence!
Delete