Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      cup           chopped onion
   4      ounces        fresh mushrooms -- sliced
   1      tablespoon    olive oil
   1      cup           medium pearl barley
   3      teaspoons     instant chicken bouillon granules
   3      cups          boiling water
   1      teaspoon      hot red-pepper sauce
   1                    -- medium: red bell
                        pepper, diced, and zucchini, sliced

Preparation:

Combine onion, mushrooms and oil in a 2-quart glass measure. Cover with vented plastic wrap. Microwave on high 3 minutes. Add barley, bouillon, boiling water and pepper sauce. Re-cover and microwave on high 2 to 3 minutes, or until water returns to a boil. Then microwave on medium (50 percent) 15 minutes. Add bell pepper and zucchini; re-cover. Microwave on medium 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Nutritional Information:

221 calories, 4 grams protein, 4 grams fat, 43 grams carbohydrates, 6 grams fiber, no cholesterol, 78 milligrams sodium.