This is another recipe I made up. I love barley, so that had to be included. This recipe also has a "secret ingredient." It's not really so secret since I'm going to tell you, but the ingredient that I think sets this hearty soup apart from all the rest is cinnamon! :) 

All this talk is making me hungry for it, so I've gotta go get my stew meat out of the freezer! :)

Hearty Beef Barley Vegetable Soup

1 ¼ lbs beef stew meat  - ground beef can also be substituted (90% lean would be best)

1 sm – med onion

16 c. water

1 (generous) c. pearl barley

12 bullion cubes

3 tsp. dried parsley flakes

3 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 can diced tomatoes with the juice

1 can whole kernel corn – drained

10 oz. frozen green beans

Lightly brown stew meat (or fully cook ground beef). Fry onions at the same time in same pan – ‘till translucent(I add a little olive oil to the pan).  Combine water, barley, bullion, and spices in 8qt. pan add meat and onion with juices, when ready.  Cook for about 1 hr. Add vegetables and cook only until beans are tender crisp.

Enjoy! :)

Mexican Bake

Serves two large families

5 c. raw rice

11 c. water (to cook rice in)

salt water before cooking

1 lb. ground beef

2 packets taco seasoning (two - ¼ c. servings out of a jar of Taco seasoning)

1 1/3 c. water (to add to taco seasoning and meat)

1 palm full of dried minced onions

2 cans tomato paste

4 tomato paste cans of water

1 bag frozen corn – thawed (not cooked)

1 can chili beans

1 can black beans - rinsed

1 tomato – diced (mine was not quite all the way ripe – stays together better that way)

1 Anaheim chili pepper - green

1 Ancho chili pepper - green

Add all of the above to meat and let simmer just until a slow boil. (Be sure mixture is still juicy enough for 5 cups of rice!)

Cheddar cheese - shredded

Sprinkle enough shredded cheddar cheese over casseroles to cover tops. Cover casseroles and let stand for cheese to melt. Set in warmed oven instead, if preferred. Serve with sour cream and/or guacamole if preferred.

Makes two 9x13 pans

OK, the verdict is in, my husband and kids loved the granola. It isn't so much Chocolate Granola as Hint of Chocolate Granola. The Walnuts seem to add to the chocolate taste a bit too. Well, try it, see what you think!