Rhubarb ♥

We have Rhubarb, it came with the house - my husbands grandmother planted it, presumably a bit more than 15 years ago... so when I read about how it only produces for 10-15 years i think to myself - rubbish...  but to be safe I plan on purchasing more this fall pretty and  I am debating between Chipman’s Canada Red Rhubarb for Gurneys.com and Starkrimson® Rhubarb from starkbros.com look at that gorgeous red color!

Rhubarb Custard Pie served up on one Grandmas dishes - she'd be proud !

Today, I finally made to out to the patch after the morning showers, picked a big bundle off the stuff and returned to the kitchen...  just then my Husband stumble in saw rhubarb and immediately requested pie -   I I found a crust in the freezer, but no eggs, so he set off to his dads down the road to borrow a couple eggs...

Rhubarb pie is good, but with custard - it is AMAZING!
The recipe I (rather loosely) base my pie off of is is here (they call it cream, but IMHO eggs = Custard) I also, use a couple dashes of cinnamon and cloves instead of nutmeg and reduce the sugar by 1/2 cup...   and add a splash of vanilla to the custard (and pre-bake the crust & cover edges with foil when baking the pie) - today used only Rhubarb and no top crust (my favorite variation but it is good with or out without strawberries  (*when using strawberries add an extra tablespoon of four) and with a single or double crust) delish every time - it must be the custard!!!  


 Next I started on new a brilliant new concoction...

Rhubarb Lime Compote
1 lb Rhubarb (diced into 1/2 pieces) 
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice 
Mix everything together in a bowl... heat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a bakers half sheet (18x13x1 inch) pan with parchment and pour mixture onto sheet and spread out... bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. remove from oven and serve warm or cool.  I certainly could have eaten the entire bathe warm with a spoon but, I ladled it into jars to be refrigerated for later use - served over ice cream, cake or with whipped cream...  perhaps all three  - YUM!!



well I ran out of Rhubarb (for now) so I had to postponed making....
Rhubarb Lime Syrup 
by: http://hitchhikingtoheaven.com  



and 

Rhubarb Fruit Leather with Strawberries, Honey, and Cinnamon
by: http://sweetdomesticity.blogspot.com/

Ms. and Mr. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

Supermoon Birthday!!!

it is official I am 41!?  where o where did the time go!?yesterday I ran (errr...  jogged - something like a 17-18 minute mile) 1.5 miles and light upper-body circuit ( 8 repetitions on each machine) IK IK...  but it was the first time in over a year!?!  again... where does the time go!?  anyway, pretty pleased with myself - evidently not as in bad a shape as I suspected - feeling pretty good today! -  must be all the running up and down the stairs at work.  =) 
so, ok total slacker with the photo a day - perhaps, IF I had a camera phone I'd do better but I'm old school with the phone - and I love photo editing  =)  BTW I am lovin' picmonkey!  

May 1: Peace
I made this bracelet a few years ago in San Diego on one of my trips Pacific Beach - my home away from home -  oh how I miss you Pacific Beach - I LOVE you SO much!!!   =) 

earlier in the week I made these Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes - used boxed White Cake mix made it as directed and then  added the juice of half a lime (oh, yes, I got a HUGE bag of lime for $1 and have been adding lime to everything!) then filled the muffin cups and added a few sliced fresh strawberries & baked as directed on the box (maybe a minute or 2 longer) ...  they were VERY good plain or with a bit of whipped cream  =D 

Anyway, I  had a pretty  good birthday - the HB accompanied me to the local conservation groups annual native plant sale - I was kinda bummed, I missed the presale & they sold out of the 2 things I wanted most, but got about a dozen plants 1/2 for my shade garden and  1/2 for my prairie patch  (pictures shall be forth comming)  =)  OMG and they had a great selection of rain garden plants!!!   I have got to get the HB working on that - next year for sure!    they went out for a BFB (Big Effin Breakfast) and spent the rest of the day playing in the yard... picking myself some Lilly of the Valley flowers...  
(mmmm.. smells SO sweet =))

Lily of the Valley

 pulling weeds, staking the peonies and tending the veggie garden...  and strawberry patch  =)    cooked up some Baked Ziti  which is a lot  like lasagna but  instead of all the messing with layers you used  penne pasta  mixed everything together top with more cheese and bake  =)   while I was making it I saw an new birdie  visitor at the feeder...   so I snapped a photo of him - went right to my Audubon North American Bird Field Guide - He is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and and well well, today's photo a day theme is bird!?     2 out of 5 ain't bad =) 

Day 5: Bird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

finally enjoying a cold bottle of Barefoot Brut Cuvee eating my Ziti and watch a little UFC fighting!!!  oh and gotta go see my Birthday Supermoon!!!