Yummy Rhubarb Crisp! |
Well here we are getting fired up
about the garden and all that she will bear for us...
spring, summer, fall and winter... each holds a different
gift for the individual. Most people are not aware of the
extended growing capabilities that we now have available
in more northern climates, such as mine here in the thumb
of Michigan. We have some cold winters but with heated
and unheated greenhouses, high tunnels and/ or hoop houses
the posibilities are quite amazing. No we can't grow
tomatoes, they need a certain amount of sunlight to bear
that vine ripened flavorful tomato. I don't believe in
hydroponics and wouldn't eat anything grown that way on
purpose... read the labels friends, you'd be surprised at
what you're eating during the winter months. I believe,
but don't totally practice eating 'in season'... my family
likes banana's and oranges and we buy them in the winter.
I do realize that eating local and in season are wonderful
and right things, but, we are a bit spoiled. With all the
preserving and root cellaring we do we have pretty much
every thing we could want out of the garden all winter
long and right on through spring until it all starts
coming in fresh again. With our hoop houses we can have
fresh greens and lettuces all winter long... like I said
we are spoiled! Which brings me to helping you put up some
rhubarb and giving you recipes on how to use it in and out
'of season'... enjoy!
*What are tussie mussies you say...
or you are saying quaintly how you haven't heard that term
in ages... either way, it is a far cuter word than
'bouquet'... Brief history on them... from reading I have
discovered they apparently originated in Elizabethan
England and people carried and sniffed them around to help
disguise the dreadful stench of London's streets. They are
made with aromatic flowers and herbs such as lavender,
rosemary, and rue, which were believed to be protection
from the plaque and other diseases. They were also
believed to help cleanse the air of a house where sickness
was. By the time of the Victorian era they had become
'highly stylized nosegays', (I like that word too), and
had 'become a favorite way to send messages to friends and
lovers'. They also were used in bridal bouquets, they
were both pretty and practical. So now that you know how
these adorable little things came to be lets get into the
fun of making them and learning the meanings behind
particular herbs and flowers.
During my discovery on tussie mussies I learned the meanings and sentiments that go behind many herbs and flowers that I as an avid gardener never knew... yes I know red roses mean love but no I didn't know that basil has a double meaning, it can symbolize both love and hate. I am sure that some of these little gestures or as said 'notes' could have caused some serious 'oop's, that's not what I meant' moments. So here are some interesting meanings behind those much loved blossoms and herbs...
*Lemon balm is for sympathy
*chervil represents sincerity
*rue conveys disdain
*parsley represents festivity
*rosebuds are of course for love... although different colors mean different things... more on that another day
*violets stand for modesty
*basil can represent as mentioned above both love and hate... be careful on who you send that one to!
During my discovery on tussie mussies I learned the meanings and sentiments that go behind many herbs and flowers that I as an avid gardener never knew... yes I know red roses mean love but no I didn't know that basil has a double meaning, it can symbolize both love and hate. I am sure that some of these little gestures or as said 'notes' could have caused some serious 'oop's, that's not what I meant' moments. So here are some interesting meanings behind those much loved blossoms and herbs...
*Lemon balm is for sympathy
*chervil represents sincerity
*rue conveys disdain
*parsley represents festivity
*rosebuds are of course for love... although different colors mean different things... more on that another day
*violets stand for modesty
*basil can represent as mentioned above both love and hate... be careful on who you send that one to!
A standard bridal tussie mussie was
very symbolic... here is what would have typically been
included in one...
*rose for love
*rosemary for remembrance
*mint for purity
*thyme for courage
*lily of the valley was for the return of happiness
*lavender gave luck... although it also represents mistrust, ummm..
*rosemary for remembrance
*mint for purity
*thyme for courage
*lily of the valley was for the return of happiness
*lavender gave luck... although it also represents mistrust, ummm..
How to make a tussie mussie...
The American Museum in Bath, England gives instructions in a museum booklet for creating them.
You can make tussie mussies with fresh herbs and flowers with dried materials. A fresh t.m. can be dried with its charm and fragrance intact if you're careful to use only those fresh ingredients that dry easily; lavender, thyme, mint, rosemary, and southerwood, for example. Use as many sweet smelling herbs as possible, and try to include herbs with contrasting colors and leaf shapes. These simple guidelines will yield a traditional tussie mussie.
1. Start with a fresh rose, still in bud, or a few sprigs of a flowering herb like sage. Surround the rose or flowering herb with a circle of green leafed herb, preferably one like southerwood that has rather finely cut leaves. Tie the stems together with a piece of string or knitting wool.
2. Add another circle of a fragrant herb, and tie again. Repeat this process- varying the colors and leaf shapes from row or row and using flowering herbs like mint or marjoram if you have them on hand- until the tussie mussie is the size you want. Make the last circle with a large leaved herb such as lamb's ear or rose geranium.
3. For a formal effect, create a collar for the nosegay by cutting a small hole in the center of a paper doily and slipping it over the stems. Tie the finished tussie mussie with a ribbon to hold the doily in place
... now you have the means to make and give adorable messages using your blossoms and herbs!
The American Museum in Bath, England gives instructions in a museum booklet for creating them.
You can make tussie mussies with fresh herbs and flowers with dried materials. A fresh t.m. can be dried with its charm and fragrance intact if you're careful to use only those fresh ingredients that dry easily; lavender, thyme, mint, rosemary, and southerwood, for example. Use as many sweet smelling herbs as possible, and try to include herbs with contrasting colors and leaf shapes. These simple guidelines will yield a traditional tussie mussie.
1. Start with a fresh rose, still in bud, or a few sprigs of a flowering herb like sage. Surround the rose or flowering herb with a circle of green leafed herb, preferably one like southerwood that has rather finely cut leaves. Tie the stems together with a piece of string or knitting wool.
2. Add another circle of a fragrant herb, and tie again. Repeat this process- varying the colors and leaf shapes from row or row and using flowering herbs like mint or marjoram if you have them on hand- until the tussie mussie is the size you want. Make the last circle with a large leaved herb such as lamb's ear or rose geranium.
3. For a formal effect, create a collar for the nosegay by cutting a small hole in the center of a paper doily and slipping it over the stems. Tie the finished tussie mussie with a ribbon to hold the doily in place
... now you have the means to make and give adorable messages using your blossoms and herbs!
*(information taken and adapted
from "Herbs; Gardens, Decorations, and Recipes, by Emelie
Tolley and Chris Mead; Clarkson N. Potter,
Ind./Publishers, 1985)
Rhubarb is a spring treat that you
either love or hate... there is no gray area with this
tangy, mouth puckering fruit. Asparagus and rhubarb are
two of the first home grown things, other than lettuce
& greens from the hoop houses that we get to feast on
after winters long silence of green stuff. My family all
enjoys rhubarb in any desert, pie or preserves... Mix em'
up with yummy strawberries and they are more manageable.
Rhubarb is extremely easy to store for winter and takes no
more time then to pick, clean and cut. We cut the pieces
into 1 inch chunks and then toss them either in one gallon
ice cream buckets or freezer bags; freeze fir up to 1
year. Enjoy your favorite treats year round. One thing
many people fail to realize is that you can eat rhubarb
all summer as well... just be careful not to harvest after
it has gone to seed. Once the seed heads have dried and
died back, simply cut back and then enjoy some fresh
stalks, just don't pick it to much... slow and easy during
the summer and fall. Be sure to water it during dry
spells to keep the new stalks coming on. Here are some
easy and yummy treats to enjoy this spring time treat! One
other thing to remember when harvesting rhubarb is to
always leave at least one third of the plants stalks so it
will be strong and can replenish itself.
Here are a couple favorite's around
the Smith house...
Rhubarb Crisp
6 c Rhubarb
cut into 1” pieces
1 1/2 c sugar
6 tbsp flour
1 c brown sugar
1 c oatmeal
3/4 c flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c melted butter
1 1/2 c sugar
6 tbsp flour
1 c brown sugar
1 c oatmeal
3/4 c flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c melted butter
1. Combine first 3 ingredients,
toss and place in 9x13 pan.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and sprinkle over Rhubarb.
3. Bake @ 375 for 40 –45 minutes.
4. Serve warm with Vanilla Ice Cream.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and sprinkle over Rhubarb.
3. Bake @ 375 for 40 –45 minutes.
4. Serve warm with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Rhubarb
Punch...
4 c
diced rhubarb
4 c water
2 c sugar
1/2 c orange juice
1/3 c lemon juice
2 liters clear soda– sprite, ginerale, etc.
4 c water
2 c sugar
1/2 c orange juice
1/3 c lemon juice
2 liters clear soda– sprite, ginerale, etc.
Cook
rhubarb in water till soft. Strain through a clean cloth
lined colander. Add sugar to the
liquid & bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Add juices. Chill. Add soda just before serving!
Add juices. Chill. Add soda just before serving!
Happy
Day,
Jean
Jean
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