Mixed Grain Mushroom Casserole

1/2 c Wild rice

1/2 c Pearl barley

1/2 c Brown rice

1/4 c Oil

1 lg Onion; thinly sliced

4 Garlic cloves; chopped

4 tb Unsalted butter or margarine

-OR- Oil 1/2 lb Mushrooms; thickly sliced

3 1/2 c Broth

1 ts Crushed dried thyme

1/2 ts Crushed dried oregano

Salt & pepper; to taste Combine grains in a mixing bowl and set aside. Pour the oil into a 2-3 qt. casserole which is safe for both stovetop and oven cooking, and place on med. heat. When hot , saute onion and garlic until tender and translucent, about 5-6 mins. Add the mixed grains and saute for 1 min., stirring constantly. Meanwhile melt butter or margarine (if using) in a separate pan on med. high heat. When hot , add mushrooms and saute quickly, stirring frequently, until the shrooms are hot and have just absorbed the "butter" (about 1 min.). Immediately remove from heat. Add the broth, herbs, and mushrooms to the casserole with the onions and grains, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, cover tightly (use aluminum foil between pot and cover if necessary for a good seal), and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hr. NOTES: I use alot less oil (only as much as needed to keep things from sticking in my cast-iron dutch oven), add hot peppers and fresh herbs (rosemary is especially delicious; i dislike dried oregano so i use less or none), add soy sauce instead of salt, and saute the mushrooms first in the same pan (taking them out when done) so i dont have to wash two pans :^>. Frankly i can't see where they get 8 servings from, this lasts me maybe 3 meals....It's really a hearty dish, so save it for a cold day (some of us still have a few left, despite the advent of spring). Enjoy! (8 servings as a side dish, less as an entree) From: karpen@nrlfs1.nrl.navy.mil (Judy Karpen) @Newsgroups: rec.food.veg