fruit and barley salad

I love, love, love this recipe! It is so yummy and healthy. I got it from my friend Meredith's vegetarian cooking blog, VegetriaNation. As usual, I have tweaked it a bit for my tastes. I also scaled down the recipe because the original recipe made a TON which is good for a crowd but not so good since my kids refuse to eat it. That's okay, more for me!

fruit and barley salad

3/4 cups pearl barley
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lime juice, fresh or bottled (I use whatever I happen have on hand)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 medium peach or nectarine, cut into ½ -inch pieces
2 small tomatoes, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Heat 1 1/2 cups water to boiling over high heat. Add barley and 1/2 teaspoon salt; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 35-45 minutes or until barley is tender and liquid is absorbed (barley will have a creamy consistency).

In large bowl mix lime juice, olive oil, sugar, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoons salt.

Rinse barley with running cold water; drain well. Add barley, peaches, tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro to lime dressing; stir gently to coat. Makes 4-6 servings.