Recipe: Celery Barley Soup (blender)

CELERY BARLEY SOUP

6 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped onion
5 cups thinly sliced celery, divided use
1/2 cup chopped celery leaves
1 teaspoon crushed dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup pearled barley
salt to taste

In a large saucepan bring broth to a boil. Add onion, 3 cups of the sliced celery, celery leaves, thyme, pepper and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.

In an electric blender, puree the soup in two batches.

Return the puree to the saucepan; bring to a boil, Add barley; simmer, covered, until barley is almost tender - about 25 minutes.

Add remaining 2 cups of celery; simmer, covered, until celery and barley are tender - about 5 minutes. Stir in salt. Thin with more chicken broth if necessary.

Servings: 6 (makes about 1 quart)
Source: The Washington Post