Tuesday, 7 June 2011

Rhubarb, The Colonel Gaddafi of the Allotment

Well rhubarb time seems to be drawing to a close. Thank heavens. It (the rhubarb patch) never seems to get any smaller, though goodness knows I've done my best - I've given lots away, - visitors are seen staggering off down the lane, two bowed legs tottering along beneath the mountain of red stems and green leaves. I've even dug some up in an effort to reduce the Occupied Area, but rhubarb clings to its power base in the allotment with a tenacity reminiscent of a middle eastern despot. I'm expecting Tony Blair to be popping round any time now.

And worse still,  much to Mr Wilkinson's consternation, Rhubarb Crumble is off the menu as I'm still on the diet.  Sort of.  So casting around for ways in which I could  usefully put this earliest of the year's fruit crop on the menu, I came upon Jamie's idea of Rhubarb Bellinis which I rather fancy.


Or possibly this reasonably healthy idea from one of my favourite cooking blogs Smitten Kitchen

neither are stricly in the diet regime though....Ah well, the things one has to endure for International Diplomacy.

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20 comments:

  1. Sharon7 June 2011 at 20:38

    Put the diet aside for a day and make a rhubarb custard pie in my name. MMMmmm! It has been years since I have had any!

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  2. Diane7 June 2011 at 20:48

    My rhubarb has been terrible this year. Two plants have been killed by ants and the other has been struggling!! Diane

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  3. Rowan7 June 2011 at 21:38

    I must say that the rhubarb bellini sounds rather good! My rhubarbb has been absolute rubbish this year though - the rhubarb and orange cake was the one bright spot. A large quantity of manure is indicated in the autumn I think!

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  4. Little Blue Mouse7 June 2011 at 21:56

    I got myself a rhubarb plant the other week and haven't decided where to put it yet. After reading your post I think it'll need a bit of elbow room!

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  5. H8 June 2011 at 09:18

    Aw I'm dead jealous! My rhubarb, both at home and on the allotment are looking very sorry- you can send some our way I LOVE the look of those bellinis :)

    H x

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  6. ted and bunny8 June 2011 at 10:16

    hiya!
    have done rhubarb smoothies, rhubarb muffins, and mackerel with rhubarb here, all seemed well received!
    xx

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  7. tammykingdon8 June 2011 at 12:25

    I think dividing your rhubarb is what's keeping it going. My old patch was exactly the same- thriving. At my new place I haven't divided at all and the clumps are definitely dwindling! I use boiloed and mashed .rhubarb as a base for making sweet and sour vegetables to go with noodles

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  8. Vera8 June 2011 at 14:16

    Oh yummy! Love rhubarb crumble, but our rhubarb is still building its strength up so can't be pulled this year. But...perhaps next year it will be!

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  9. Bridget10 June 2011 at 13:25

    Is'nt it great to have so much home grown fruit, although all the books say it's a veg,no air miles!

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  10. Nan10 June 2011 at 15:12

    Great, great stuff, rhubarb!! We have four plants, all of which came from one original. Your blog title is hilarious, and perfect!

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  11. Texan10 June 2011 at 19:35

    Rhubard just won't live here. It starts out so good then when our extreme heat hits it dies. I even tried putting it in a mostly shady area. Nope have not yet got it to live.

    Yes Vadalia onions are a flatter round super sweet white onion. They only are out once a year. The salad dressing, I did add the 1/4 cup of grapeseed oil to it in my caraf and shook it up. That gave it just the right consistency. You could use what ever you guys real sweet onions are. The Valadia are not GIANT in size, they are big but not like a huge spanish onion that gets to be the size of a grapefruit. Just to help ya on our amount.

    I am just shuddering, You don't have Rotel there? OH my... someone needs to address that and get you guys Rotel! Add it to Chili and its just super, or to cheese dip or to any soup you would put tomatoes to give it a little kick. To a pot of beans. Its good in any mexican dish you would use tomatoes. If you like Jalapenos then you can use Rotel instead of tomatoes in many cases. I make a vegetarian faux cheese and black bean dip using nutritional yeast, black beans and Rotel that is simply to die for! A lot of people here use Rotel with Velveeta cheese and make dip to eat with corn chips. If you have Velveeta there? Its well its a cheese food stuff, I don't eat it but most do :O).

    ReplyDelete
  12. NunneryFarm11 June 2011 at 16:58

    Hello I have just started a new Blog and am searching for some interesting blogs to add to my reading list and came across yours which I think is fab. I am looking forward to hearing your news. Leanne

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  13. Leanne11 June 2011 at 17:00

    Hello I have just started a new Blog and am searching for some interesting blogs to add to my reading list and came across yours which I think is fab. I am looking forward to hearing your news. Leanne

    ReplyDelete
  14. A Canadian Foodie12 June 2011 at 16:44

    testing

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  15. A Canadian Foodie12 June 2011 at 16:46

    I am so glad you found me so that I could find you! I am doing the gift opening brunch the day after my daughter's wedding in three weeks - rhubarb season has just begun here - and I am thrilled to find this bellini recipe to use instead of the traditional OJ with Persecco....
    Thank you!
    Valerie

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  16. A Canadian Foodie12 June 2011 at 17:13

    I would love to follow you - but do not use feeders or readers. Would you consider uploading feedburner (it is free) and then I could subscribe by mail.)
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. cottage garden farmer12 June 2011 at 18:15

    Hello Valerie, I will look into feedburner and see if I can add it to the blog. It's not something I'd thought of. Thanks. Kathy

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  18. John Going Gently12 June 2011 at 22:30

    kathy
    I grow tons of the stuff and hate it!
    a lady from the village ( nicknamed german helmet) came and collected a load and let the chickens into my veg patch
    with devistating results
    x

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  19. Pam's English Garden13 June 2011 at 11:20

    Dear Kathy, I love my rhubarb, but so do the slugs. They left me enough to enjoy though. P. x

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  20. sell my car15 June 2011 at 10:13

    These are such a very best food for the health. It have no any disadvantages of taking in daily diet.

    ReplyDelete

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