Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup

It seems like we've all had the lurgy for the past couple of months, it comes and almost goes but we never feel totally well.  I've decided to try and cram as many vegetables in to our diet as possible, to try and combat the lurgy and get us all feeling better.

I cooked this soup on a blustery and windy day, it was so comforting and warming, I was glad there was plenty left to stash in the freezer as well as giving a bowl to my daughters for an after school snack.

Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 onions, roughly diced

3 carrots, roughly diced

3 stalks celery, roughly diced

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly diced

1 butternut squash, peeled and roughly diced

200g pearl barley

2 tsp dried mixed herbs
2 litres of vegetable stock

salt and pepper to season

Sweat the vegetables in a little oil for a few minutes until the onion has softened.  Add the stock, dried herbs and pearl barley, then simmer for around 40 minutes until the pearl barley has swelled and is soft and the vegetables are very tender.  Serve in bowls, season to taste and top with chopped fresh parsley if you have any.  We ate ours with Hidden Goodness Rolls.