test cook 2 - unsoaked barley

1/4 cup is about 50 g of barley.

I rinsed it.

Drained it and rinsed several times.

(Wish I knew how to correct for sideways pictures!)

Added to my pot with 3/4 of a cup of water. When I looked at 150 ml, which in theory, if I recall correctly,  should be 150 g, it was a bit less than 3/4 of a cup.

Since I suspect I will need to add water, I am not fussed about the volume. When I add water, I plan to add 1/4 cup at a time. If it's too soupy, I can always drain the grain.

Not a rolling boil, but a low boil. Starting the timer for 30 minutes...

I turned my stove to "2" which keeps things simmering. (I forgot to mention that in yesterday's post!)

Also started a stopwatch, because I believe this will take longer than 30 minutes to cook.

I will test firmness (doneness) at 30 minutes.

When we moved to our house three years ago, there was a pool. It had frogs. We didn't plan to use it and since it was a frog breeding ground we gave it away. It also had lots of bbs in it. The kid of the prior owner used his bb-gun everywhere. We found them in the house, in the workshop, multiple holes in the siding, and one of the windows had been replaced. Makes me think he shot it!

Anyway, there's a super nice flat spot with sand under it, even it's a bit overgrown.

My fire ring! We've talked for ages about getting a fire ring. With school  and plans to cook, we finally got it. I have to decide whether to put the trivets in the rings or build a lower space outside for coals. It might be easier to have a separate coal bed outside, rather than work the fire around the trivets inside the ring.

Back to today's test cook. Life happened and my unsoaked barley cooked for an hour and 47 minutes before I got back to it. It should have cooked and veen checked after a half hour! Seemed well cooked. All the water was absorbed.

I'm a bit surprised it didn't burn! Well, we'll be doing this again... Actually,  it's a bit interesting it didn't burn. It seems forgiving. The grain was robust but definitely acceptable softness.

I was going to plan to soak enough grain tonight to divide to my three pots and cook out side, BUT I don't have fuel and it looks like it's going to thunderstorm the next few days.