Rooting for Rhubarb

Image by Myshanah from Pixabay

It was the only sign that spring was on its way. I was watching my rhubarb carefully peek its rough leaves through the soil. I came back every day to see how much further the leaves had pushed out. Now the rhubarb stands quite tall, so I better get out there.

Rhubarb is very easy to grow. Come the fall or early spring, wander on over to your friend’s rhubarb patch and ask for some rhubarb crowns or bare roots. The best time to plant rhubarb is early fall or early spring.

Rhubarb I couldn’t part with

While on a trip back to check on our house before it sold, I unceremoniously dug up my rhubarb, threw it in a five-gallon pail with some soil and water, and shoved it into the back of the truck. There it stayed for 3 days before making the journey back to Minnesota.

My ‘Wina-sotan’ rhubarb now lives by the propane tank. I don’t like rhubarb much, but my husband does. I like to try different recipes each year. Enjoy the following variety of recipes!

The following recipes come from the Country Cooking, Bethel Christian Reformed Church Fellowship Society of Edgerton, Minnesota. I got this recipe book at a rummage sale and it looks as if someone got the cover and the first five pages stuck in a door or drawer and ripped off the bottom half. So, I can’t tell you what year it was published. It has a robin egg blue cover.

Rhubarb Cherry Crunch- Dawn Tinklenberg

Ingredients

• 1 c. oatmeal
• 1 c. sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 c. flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cups rhubarb
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. water
• 3 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tsp. red food coloring
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• 1 can cherry pie filling

Directions

Mix the first five ingredients and press in a 9×13- inch pan. Save 1/2 cup of crumbs for topping. Spread rhubarb over unbaked crust. Boil sugar, water, and cornstarch until thick. AD coloring and extract. Pour over rhubarb. Spoon pie filling over top. Sprinkle crust crumbs over top. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

Rhubarb Ice Cream- Jo Bouma

Ingredients

• 1-quart vanilla ice cream
• 1 c. rhubarb sauce- see recipe below
• Red food coloring- add to the desired effect

Mix and freeze. It almost tastes like strawberry ice cream!

Rhubarb Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 c. (1 inch) rhubarb slices
• 1 1/2 – 2 cups sugar
• 1/4-1/2 water

Directions

Put all ingredients into a saucepan. Cook until tender and begins to fall apart when stirred. Cool and store in the refrigerator. Makes 4-5 cups.

Rhubarb Kuchen- Eunice Teunissen

Ingredients

• 1 c. flour
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 6 tbsp. butter
• 1 beaten egg
• 2 tbsp. milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 (3 oz.) pkg. red gelatin
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 3 tbsp. flour
• 1 1/2 lbs. rhubarb, sliced=4 cups
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. flour

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients. Cut in 3 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg, milk, and vanilla. Add to flour mixture, and stir until moistened. Lightly flour hand; pat dough on bottom and 1 up the sides of a 9x9x2 inch baking pan. Combine gelatin, 1/3 cup sugar, and 3 tablespoons flour. Add rhubarb and mix well. Pour into crust. Combine 2/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup flour. Cut in 3 tablespoons butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over rhubarb. Bake at 350° until rhubarb is tender and the top is browned. 60- 65 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Rhubarb Cobbler- Alice Swier

Ingredients

• 5 c. rhubarb
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 c. milk

Directions

Place rhubarb on the bottom of a 9×12 pan. Make a mixture of sugar, butter, and salt. Add flour, baking powder, and milk. Place over rhubarb. Then mix 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Pour over batter and pour 1 cup boiling water over all. Bake until light brown, about 40 minutes.

There you have it, friends! Some great rhubarb recipes to try. Till next time. Here is to good food, good friends, and a good life.