Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Oh My !

Sometimes you just have to make a good old-fashioned pie. Strawberries and rhubarb combine to make a pie that feels like Aunt Bea just took it off the windowsill in Mayberry. It's such a vintage treat !

Berry Cobbler ...

We're on the cusp of blueberry season here in the Northeast and coming to the tail end of strawberry season, which means I am tempted by all the berry desserts, smoothies, kabobs, shortcakes, and cobblers making the rounds of the blogsphere.

Strawberry Moon and a Strawberry Pie ...

The strawberry plants have yielded a plentiful crop this year. SB moved the location of the plants last summer and tended them lovingly all last summer. His hard work paid off for us, as I've had enough for strawberry jam, gifting some to neighbors, making strawberry shortcakes, strawberry ice cream, smoothies, and today, a strawberry rhubarb pie. Plus, there is nothing like picking a colander full and just sitting and eating them like candy ...

This year's Strawberry Rhubarb pie is courtesy of Bon Appetit magazine's website. The filling is consists of equal amounts of rhubarb and strawberries and the juices are (supposedly) thickened by adding cornstarch to the sugars and spice. I think I would add more than the quarter cup measure, as the pie is ultra-juicy. Taste, though, is really good. There is a hint of cinnamon in the mix and I always add just a bit of cordial to give the filling a little boozy flavour. This year it's a couple tablespoons of our neighbor, Jeff's 'Black Eye Blackberry Cordial'.

The lattice is always fun to make and this year's crust, Martha Stewart's Pate Brisee made for an easy handling dough. Loads of butter and a hint of sugar make a really rich crust. I was so guilty about the calorie content on this dessert that I made a warm roasted cauliflower salad and another cold bitter greens salad for our dinner ... we got our fruits and veggies tonight! Now, we're waiting around to see if the skies will be clear for the rise of the Strawberry Super Moon.

Rite of Spring

We picked our first substantial colander of fresh strawberries today. It's raining and chilly, but who cares? There are perfect berries right out of the back yard bed, macerating in a layer of sugar and about a tablespoon of dry red wine.

Strawberry Custard Pie ...

Spring is here when the strawberries start tempting you, as you pass through the produce department at the supermarket. Am I right? They're not perfect, but they are just so darn promising of warmer days. I can't wait to get down on hands and knees to creep along the rows of berries, filling a colander and contemplating strawberry shortcake, stopping to brush the dirt off a particularly beautiful berry and pop it in my mouth to sample the juiciness. Berries and cream, berry smoothies, strawberry ice cream, spinach salad with strawberries and balsamic vinaigrette, strawberry jam ... is it any wonder that I always fall for the first berries that come in from 'where ever'? I'm a strawberry junkie.

Today I made strawberry custard pie.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Stacks and A Nod to Julie Powell

Julie, Julie, Julie! Just look what you've done! I wonder if you sometimes think about the numbers, no, legions, of foodies that have joined the blogging world because of your memoir and blog. I wonder if you are completely happy with the level of notoriety that your romping through Julia Child's masterpiece, Mastering the Art of French Cooking brought to you? It has certainly earned you the final place on Gourmet's on-line magazine list of 50 Woman Game Changers. Your humor, angst, and fearless approach toward some of those daunting recipes have inspired many a cook to haul out the cookware, sharpen the knives, track down the ingredients, and get to it in the kitchen!

Good for you! I imagine, though, that you don't give a ratatouille's ass about all the attention. Somehow, I think your mind must be on the next great project ... I see that you've spent a huge block of time recently learning the art of butchering and charcuterie. I can only speculate what will come next! Perhaps cheesemaking or pastry preparation?

Strawberry Rhubarb Tart ...

Check out the vintage towel that is a map of New England ... those berries are right over our little area of New Hampshire!

Today, I made a tart of rhubarb and strawberries from our backyard patch ... I thought it would be easy to find a treatment for rhubarb that I would go crazy over, but no. I had to look around at several different recipes before I decided to take some ingredients from one and more of certain ingredients from another. I borrowed ideas from Martha Stewart's  tiny tart recipe and also from Better Homes & Garden's classic strawberry-rhubarb pie recipe. A classic pie pastry and more fresh sliced berries atop made for a pretty tart.