I liked figuring out the differences between these two recipes. I happen to have most of the ingredients, so I'm going to make one of them tonight.

Barley, Lentil, and Mushroom Soup
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3/4 cup pearl barley
3/4 cup dry brown lentils
1/3 cup dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
2 quarts low-sodium beef broth
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
4 cups sliced button mushrooms
1 tablespoon dry sherry (optional)

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion; cook and stir until onions are limp, but not brown, about 5 minutes. Mix in the celery and carrot; cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the barley and lentils so they are coated with oil, continue to cook and stir until lightly toasted.
Pour in the beef broth and season with thyme, parsley, pepper and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Add the porcini mushrooms, cover and simmer for 25 minutes over low heat. Add the button mushroom, cover and continue cooking for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in sherry during the last 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving. Makes 8 servings, 265 calories per serving.


Mushroom Lentil Barley Soup

2 quarts vegetable broth
2 cups sliced fresh button mushrooms
1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms, torn into pieces
3/4 cup uncooked pearl barley
3/4 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup dried onion flakes
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried summer savory
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
salt to taste

In a slow cooker, mix the broth, button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, barley, lentils, onion flakes, garlic, savory, bay leaves, basil, pepper, and salt. Cover, and cook 4 to 6 hours on High or 10 to 12 hours on Low. Remove bay leaves before serving. This makes 8 servings, only 177 calories per serving.