A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Dessert From the Garden


Rhubarb when raw is so tough
And its leaves contain poisonous stuff,
    But when cleaned and de-soiled
    Dipped in sugar and boiled
Then the stalks are quite tasty enough.



I was just reading about desserts from the old days. I got to thinking back to my own life with desserts. Spring would bring wonderful rhubarb pies...pies filled with that big leafed plant that grew in dad's garden. One end of the garden was dedicated to rhubarb. Mom only made this pie during the early spring...any later she said it was poisonous. I always wondered about that old wive's tale...how could you eat something early in the year and then it turned to poison later on. Hmmmm. I guess that eating the leaves might be a no no.Speaking of leaves...she talked to one of her farm lady friends, and was told that you could cut up some rhubarb leaves and put them in an aluminum pan..along with a little water...and cook it. It would clean the black off of aluminum.This really does work. My son had a friend who told us that he would be in the garden helping his mom and would pull a stalk of rhubarb and eat it.

We would just wipe it off and chew
Then watch each other's mouth go askew
    So sour yet so good
    That was in my boyhood
Things were tastier in 1942.


There were other desserts made from rhubarb. Rhubarb kuchen, cobbler, quick bread and sauce. My favorite would have to be the sauce. Cooked with just some water and sugar...then put in the fridge to get cold. It was so good for breakfast with toast. (My mouth is salivating right now, I can just taste it)
When Mom and Dad moved into an apartment I planted a rhubarb plant for her in  my own garden. Then my Mother In Law wanted one too...so in went another plant. Behind our shed was the biggest rhubarb garden that anyone ever saw. We had it coming out of our ears. Mine never went to seed like you see some varieties do. 
Later on, when I started making things with rhubarb, I learned to make rhubarb strawberry freezer jam.

 "Your rhubarb, I've noticed it grows
By the outhouse where everyone goes!"
    Grandad said, "Lad,
    It isn't so bad...
They're family! Just people we knows!"


I no longer have rhubarb in my garden. It takes up so much room and needs full sun to grow well. I buy it from farm stands occasionally. Joe isn't a big fan of rhubarb, so I would be the only one eating it.I always grab a slice of rhubarb pie at a Church supper or ice cream social. When spring comes and I see those huge leaves in a farmer's garden...I get a longing for something tart yet sweet. A piece of rhubarb pie please.

Rhubarb is much better in pies
Sweet, sour and attracting flies
    It's good as gooseberry
    And tasty as cherry
Please, have a slice -- don't  be shy!


Balisha

9 comments:

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

I always wish I liked rubarb because there are so many great recipes, but sadly I don't. I remember taking a bite from a raw piece as a kid - maybe that memory is why I don't like it :-)

Margie's Musings said...

Rhubarb pie is my very favorite. I may have something this afternoon when we go to "Just Us", our favorite restaurant over at Cherryvale.

Unknown said...

My grandmother made Rhubarb pies! She also made them mixed with strawberries! Memories! I would love a piece of Rhubarb pie RIGHT NOW! :)

Jan said...

I loved uncooked rhubarb - dipped in sugar - when I was a kid! Jx

garden girl said...

I love rhubarb Balisha! Love the verses too - rhubarb can definitely make a fan wax poetic.

I brought back a plant from my mom's a couple years ago. It went dormant during the drought last year and I feared it was dead. I was so happy to see it back this spring!

Judy said...

I used to eat it fresh and raw while helping Grandma in her garden. I liked it much better when baked in a pie--just rhubarb, sprinkled with a bit of flour and a heaping cup of sugar in the middle--it thickened up good and was yummy!!

debra @ HOMESPUN said...

I love it with strawberries in a pie :)

Lona said...

This posting just made my mouth pucker reading it. LOL! I remember when we were kids we would dare each other just to bite into a stalk of grandma rhubarb. Brought back some good memories despite the pucker it caused. LOL! I like it cooked such as in rhubarb strawberry pie.
Have a lovely weekend. We just had a storm blow through here so I have to go clean up the flowers. :(

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