Wednesday 16 April 2014

Rhubarb Rhubarb

I've been looking forward to harvesting some rhubarb from the allotment and the time was finally right. There's quite a large patch on my new plot, there's these two clumps as well as another clump which wasn't photographed which hasn't yet grown quite as large as these two. They must all be different varieties which I'm pleased about as it should prolong the harvesting period. I've also got a crown of Stockbridge Arrow waiting to be planted out.


I don't usually make a roast dinner on a Sunday, we usually have our Sunday dinner on a Monday, but I'd asked my mum and dad round for dinner on Sunday so I made roast beef, Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. I visited the plot on Saturday and harvested the first rhubarb of the season with a view to making a pie for dessert.


I forgot to take a photo of the pie before it was cut in to, but this is a photo of what was left after everyone had eaten their fill. Don't look at the nasty brown bit where the filling had bubbled out of the pastry, we'll just ignore that.


I'd harvested enough rhubarb to make a second pie which I gave to my mum and dad to take home with them as rhubarb pie is their absolute favourite. I actually prefer a crumble so that's next on the cards.

42 comments:

  1. I love rhubarb but my plant never grows to a decent size - everyone else's seems to grow like a weed!!!

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    1. That's such a shame. Do you feed it? Rhubarb is a very hungry plant.

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  2. Sometimes only the good old traditional British fare will do! I hope you had custard with the rhubarb pie.

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    1. Now you've caught me out. Only my mum and dad like custard so I admit to buying some ready made stuff and heating it in the microwave, they didn't seem to mind.

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  3. Looks good, I don't think that I have ever made a rhubarb pie that hasn't had a bit where the juices boiled out, that the bit that needs more custard so I have it.

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    1. It tasted good. I put extra slits in my pie so that the steam could escape, but that just made extra places where the juice could escape from too. Never mind, it's the taste that matters.

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  4. I really have no idea on cooking rhubarb. Here, we only use the root as medicinal stuff and additional 'spice' on cigarette.

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    1. How interesting. You should have a go at making a pie from the stems, I bet you'd love it.

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  5. Lucky you having different varies like that. I've been picking mine over the past couple of weeks. Flighty xx

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    1. I've fallen very lucky with all the fruit which has been left on the plot. I think my mum and dad enjoyed their pies, my mum hasn't got the inclination any more to bake, so if my mum has any rhubarb stems, she ends up just stewing them and having them with custard.

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  6. How lovely for you having different varieties. I have three but can't remember what they are now. Your pie looks lovely.

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    1. I'm hoping that having different varieties the harvest will stretch out a little. I just wish I knew which varieties they are.

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  7. Stewed rhubarb with the juice from an orange squeezed on is very good.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. I've never eaten it that way. Thank you for the recommendation, I'll have to give it a go.

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  8. I love rhubarb crumble, in fact, it is one of my favourite desserts....that roast sounded good too!

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    1. I prefer a crumble to a pie, I must admit. The roast was absolutely delicious, the beef was cooked to perfection and there were six completely empty plates at the end of the meal.

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  9. It's about all we have to harvest at the moment Jo. We went for crumble though.

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    1. I'd have definitely gone for crumble if my mum and dad weren't joining us for dinner. Rhubarb Pie is my dad's favourite dessert but he doesn't get home made very often these days as my mum doesn't really bake anymore, so it was a bit of a treat for him.

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  10. My rhubarb is ready for picking too, I am looking forward to making a rhubarb crumble over the weekend. It is my favourite way of eating it, a close second to rhubarb fool for when the weather heats up a bit.

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    1. Rhubarb crumble is my favourite too. I always think of rhubarb as a warm dessert, I should try rhubarb fool.

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  11. How lovely to have your first rhubarb of the year! I am hoping that I can start to harvest in a few more weeks time. It is very exciting isn't it. xx

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    1. I think the first harvest of each crop is exciting, it's the anticipation just waiting for it to be ready. Enjoy yours when it comes.

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  12. Oh I'm a bit envious of your rhubarb pie. My rhubarb was starting off well until the chickens got out and had a 'bit' of a scratch around. Result - a somewhat diminished rhubarb patch...

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    1. I bet the chickens enjoyed it though. I hope it recovers enough to get at least a taste.

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  13. Mmm, delicious pie. I love crumble as well, anything with rhubarb in fact.

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    1. Mick doesn't have a very sweet tooth but he enjoys rhubarb, I think it's the tartness that he likes.

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  14. I'm sure that the pie was delish! I don't grow rhubarb, but I remember it from my grandma's garden, when she made a rhubarb cake or a compote for us to drink.

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    1. I remember my grandma and grandpa growing rhubarb too, in fact, I remember them placing a bucket over it to force it.

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  15. We are finding ways to use our rhubarb bonanza too.

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    1. You're being a bit more adventurous than I am though.

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  16. I do love rhubarb, which seeing as we have a mass of it too is a good thing!

    My favourite recipes are:
    Rhubarb and custard cake, rhubarb egg custard and rhubarb crumble.

    At this rate we might start looking like a stick of rhubarb!

    Don't worry about rushing to the post on my account hun. It will be a fabulous parcel to look forward to.

    X x

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    1. It's good to have plenty to go at. Rhubarb crumble is my favourite, it's the crumble that does it for me. I've sent Mick to work with the parcel so I hope he's going to post it for me today.

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  17. Oh that is a trip down memory lane, my grandparents had a huge bed of rhubarb outside the back door and I remember helping as a child, making pies. Grandma always made her custard with 1/2 milk and 1/2 evaporated milk, it was always so thick rich and creamy. Let me know when the crumble is on the menu and I might be tempted to join you :-)

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    1. You'd be very welcome, I don't think it will be long until I'm pulling some more stems. I'm not a lover of custard, I think the green and pink stuff at school put me off for life.

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  18. Your rhubarb looks gorgeous, and as for that pie....delicious!!! My rhubarb is only just beginning to show.xxx

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    1. You must have a late variety. I'm ready to pull some more now.

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  19. The first harvest of rhubarb is always very exciting! I experimented with home-made rhubarb ice cream this year. We have two different varieties of rhubarb growing at our allotment, but have no idea which ones they are- they were given to us as presents, but they are both very tasty, especially in jams and crumbles!

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    1. Rhubarb ice cream sounds delicious, I shall have to look in to that. It's a shame we don't know the varieties of our rhubarb, I do like to know what I'm growing, but I suppose the most important thing is that it tastes nice.

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  20. Where I live rhubarb doesn't die off in winter. It means we get to eat it all year, and that two plants is plenty, but I think it also means it's under-appreciated here - we're spoiled!

    (I'm having trouble leaving comments, so my apologies if this comes up twice)

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    1. I agree with what you say about things being under appreciated when they're available the year round. I think we tend to look forward to them more when they're only available for a part of the year.

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