Barley with Dried Mushrooms

Plain barley, cooked any way you would rice, is fine stuff (make sure you buy pearl barley; the whole-grain variety takes forever to cook). But barley with some butter and dried mushrooms is just a fantastic midwinter side dish.

Porcini mushrooms are best bought in large quantities; a pound might cost $40 or $50 but will last for years, whereas ½ ounce might cost $4 ($128 per pound) and last you a day.