Taste the Twelfth Century
What would Will Gascoigne been served at Headley Priory during his visit there with his tutor, Brother Paschal? Possibly the Benedictine monks served him a barley porridge with Oxymel tonic from their hives to wash it down.
Barley Porridge
Cook: 20 mins | Total: 20 mins | Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked barley (see Notes)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts
- Heavy cream
- Fresh fruit for serving
Directions
- Combine barley, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk has almost been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Divide barley between two bowls.
- Top with chopped walnuts, a generous drizzle of heavy cream, and chopped fresh fruit if desired.
At this point, it’s ready to eat as a sweet barley porridge, and the extras are up to you. Personally, I add a mixture of chopped nuts and fresh fruit, and for an extra rich texture, a generous drizzle of heavy cream.
Notes
To cook barley:
- Combine 1 cup pearled barley with 3 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until barley is tender, about 40 minutes.
- Drain.
For a slightly al dente texture, cook the barley between 30 and 40 minutes instead of 45. Then combine the cooked barley with milk in a pan. Add in brown sugar and cinnamon and cook it over medium heat for about 15 minutes until the barley has absorbed the milk.
Enjoy making and savoring this historical treat! 😊
Oxymel Tonic
Delicious Remedy and Tonic from Honey and Vinegar
Total Time: 2 Minutes
Ingredients
- 300 ml Thyme Honey (raw, unfiltered, and cold extracted)
- Alternative: Put a large bunch of fresh thyme into honey and let marinate for at least a week
- 100 ml Apple Vinegar (unfiltered and unheated)
- Optional: Dried fruit (currants, apricots, etc. Go Crazy!)
Instructions
- First, put the vinegar in a sterilized storage jar. Add finely diced dried fruit if you wish.
- Add the honey and shake well.
- The Oxymel is ready!
Usage
- It is best to enjoy daily about 1 tablespoon of Oxymel diluted with 100 ml of water.
Storage
- Unopened Oxymel has a shelf life of at least 1 year.
- Once opened, it should be consumed within 6 months.
- It does not need to be kept in the refrigerator when opened.
For the full recipe go to: gruenesmoothies.com/oxymel-recipe/