>Its the Rhubarbs Fault!

>

Do I get distracted?? Why never (nodding head...YES ). Today is a fine example. Upon waking this morning I full expected to tackle all those chores that are still lurking. Clothes that should be put away, bills to be paid, vacuuming to be done....the non ending list of housewifely duties. Distraction 1 : A beautiful morning to sit on the deck with my mom enjoying a pancake breakfast and just chatting. I mean really we haven't talked all week..Hahahahahaha (18 hours of constant driving together just doesn't count...REALLY).

I did start on my list with an intent to accomplish it, Okay well at least part of it. I was well on my way until I ran out to the garden to gather the produce that was waiting for my attention. It was then and there I decided the rhubarb needed to be picked TODAY. (enter in Distraction 2) Of course you can not take a pile of rhubarb into a newly cleaned up kitchen without cleaning it up and chopping it to get it ready for the moment when the inspiration to bake a pie would hit me. Which happened to be within moments of chopping up those stems of tart vegetable. (Who am I kidding? I felt it creeping up as soon as I spied the rhubarb that should be picked..LOL).

Well what a PERFECT moment to pull out my 1955 cookbook I found on my trip to Ohio. ( I have been anxious to dive into the old fashion recipes that lurk in those pages.) Checking my cupboards to see what ingredients I had on hand, knowing a homemade crust was waiting to be filled I flipped to the index, excited to see a long list of recipes for rhubarb. Why of course there would be, rhubarb was popular back then!!! I came across a fairly simple but delectable sounding dessert.....Rhubarb Meringue Pie.

I was a bit anxious as I started the preparation, I mean this was ALL of my yummy rhubarb I was subjecting to this untried recipe...A recipe that hadn't been used in well over 50 years (smile). Rhubarb, sugar, lemon, flour, eggs and a 4 step process that was topped off with meringue (perfectly fluffed by the best kitchen assistant EVER..my stand mixer)...FAIL proof (I hoped). Then it had to be subjected to my ever faithful but quite quirky 1980 ish JennAir range and oven. The oven that drives one of my very dear friends to insanity as it can make a peach cobbler with a raw center and crusty edges . (hahahaha) Not to mention the cookies that come out and satisfy both the cookie dough lovers and crispy cookie lovers in our household. Well I popped the pie into the oven, to brown up the meringue, while I licked the pan ....OH YUMMMMY! The pie survive the experience and browned just as it should.

If the chilled product turns out as yummy as the remnants left in the pan I would call this an EPIC SUCCESS. Pencil note (not ink in my new collectible book) tried 7/15/2011 DELICIOUS!

Now I am curious as to what the next experiment will be. All I can say is that today...Its the Rhubarbs fault!

Its the Rhubarbs Fault!

Do I get distracted?? Why never (nodding head...YES ). Today is a fine example. Upon waking this morning I full expected to tackle all those chores that are still lurking. Clothes that should be put away, bills to be paid, vacuuming to be done....the non ending list of housewifely duties. Distraction 1 : A beautiful morning to sit on the deck with my mom enjoying a pancake breakfast and just chatting. I mean really we haven't talked all week..Hahahahahaha (18 hours of constant driving together just doesn't count...REALLY).

I did start on my list with an intent to accomplish it, Okay well at least part of it. I was well on my way until I ran out to the garden to gather the produce that was waiting for my attention. It was then and there I decided the rhubarb needed to be picked TODAY. (enter in Distraction 2) Of course you can not take a pile of rhubarb into a newly cleaned up kitchen without cleaning it up and chopping it to get it ready for the moment when the inspiration to bake a pie would hit me. Which happened to be within moments of chopping up those stems of tart vegetable. (Who am I kidding? I felt it creeping up as soon as I spied the rhubarb that should be picked..LOL).

Well what a PERFECT moment to pull out my 1955 cookbook I found on my trip to Ohio. ( I have been anxious to dive into the old fashion recipes that lurk in those pages.) Checking my cupboards to see what ingredients I had on hand, knowing a homemade crust was waiting to be filled I flipped to the index, excited to see a long list of recipes for rhubarb. Why of course there would be, rhubarb was popular back then!!! I came across a fairly simple but delectable sounding dessert.....Rhubarb Meringue Pie.

I was a bit anxious as I started the preparation, I mean this was ALL of my yummy rhubarb I was subjecting to this untried recipe...A recipe that hadn't been used in well over 50 years (smile). Rhubarb, sugar, lemon, flour, eggs and a 4 step process that was topped off with meringue (perfectly fluffed by the best kitchen assistant EVER..my stand mixer)...FAIL proof (I hoped). Then it had to be subjected to my ever faithful but quite quirky 1980 ish JennAir range and oven. The oven that drives one of my very dear friends to insanity as it can make a peach cobbler with a raw center and crusty edges . (hahahaha) Not to mention the cookies that come out and satisfy both the cookie dough lovers and crispy cookie lovers in our household. Well I popped the pie into the oven, to brown up the meringue, while I licked the pan ....OH YUMMMMY! The pie survive the experience and browned just as it should.

If the chilled product turns out as yummy as the remnants left in the pan I would call this an EPIC SUCCESS. Pencil note (not ink in my new collectible book) tried 7/15/2011 DELICIOUS!

Now I am curious as to what the next experiment will be. All I can say is that today...Its the Rhubarbs fault!

>The Home Companion Cookbook

>

Well I am back home from a super fast trip to Ohio again. My hometown brings back so many memories everytime I visit. I just hate visiting for sad occasions. I had just a teeny bit of time to call my own on this trip, so I spent it in one of my favorite little (BIG) Antique Collectible shops "Milan Inn-tiques". This shop is full of so many goodies it takes HOURS to see everything. The photo I posted is one of the displays of pure kitchen genius, the STAND MIXER. While browsing in this super full but fun place, I also came across a gem of a cookbook. If you don't know this about me, you are about to become very aware of the fact that I LOVE to play in the kitchen, creating all sorts of masterpieces (or not...lol). The cookbook caught my eye..."The Woman's Home Companion Cookbook". The book looks nothing like you would expect a cookbook now a days to look. It is a hardcover super thick textbook FULL of a plethora of information all relevant to the 1950's. From table settings to cake cutting, old fashioned recipes and instructions for cooking chicken that read something like this...Cut off the head and feet of the chicken..hahahahaha. I can see many hours of distraction and experimentation ahead and I step back into the 50's era. Like I need any of those . Now what should my first test recipe be...squash pudding, Baked applesauce, Mush or Cinnamon Streusal coffee cake??? I'll let you know!

The Home Companion Cookbook

Well I am back home from a super fast trip to Ohio again. My hometown brings back so many memories everytime I visit. I just hate visiting for sad occasions. I had just a teeny bit of time to call my own on this trip, so I spent it in one of my favorite little (BIG) Antique Collectible shops "Milan Inn-tiques". This shop is full of so many goodies it takes HOURS to see everything. The photo I posted is one of the displays of pure kitchen genius, the STAND MIXER. While browsing in this super full but fun place, I also came across a gem of a cookbook. If you don't know this about me, you are about to become very aware of the fact that I LOVE to play in the kitchen, creating all sorts of masterpieces (or not...lol). The cookbook caught my eye..."The Woman's Home Companion Cookbook". The book looks nothing like you would expect a cookbook now a days to look. It is a hardcover super thick textbook FULL of a plethora of information all relevant to the 1950's. From table settings to cake cutting, old fashioned recipes and instructions for cooking chicken that read something like this...Cut off the head and feet of the chicken..hahahahaha. I can see many hours of distraction and experimentation ahead and I step back into the 50's era. Like I need any of those . Now what should my first test recipe be...squash pudding, Baked applesauce, Mush or Cinnamon Streusal coffee cake??? I'll let you know!

>How LONG!

>This blog seems to be alot like my journal...hahahaha GIANT gaps for the time frames. Right now as I type I have just finished shopping, baking two casseroles and packing my suitcase for my second out of state trip in 3 weeks for a funeral. This last year and a HALF has been a whirlwind of activity that I should have blogged about, but somehow neglected to share. I apologize for not allowing you to share in all the zaniness that has occurred and promise that somehow I will do better. Of course it won't be this week as I journey once again to a land with no wifi and limited cell phone service :) To quote one of my favorite movie lines "Why there wouldn't be today"...(Groundhog Day)

Pizza Combos here I come.

How LONG!

This blog seems to be alot like my journal...hahahaha GIANT gaps for the time frames. Right now as I type I have just finished shopping, baking two casseroles and packing my suitcase for my second out of state trip in 3 weeks for a funeral. This last year and a HALF has been a whirlwind of activity that I should have blogged about, but somehow neglected to share. I apologize for not allowing you to share in all the zaniness that has occurred and promise that somehow I will do better. Of course it won't be this week as I journey once again to a land with no wifi and limited cell phone service :) To quote one of my favorite movie lines "Why there wouldn't be today"...(Groundhog Day)

Pizza Combos here I come.