Friday, June 15, 2012

If you ever want me to come visit you here is how to make it happen

First off I have to tell you that I will come with reasonable notice and if my schedule allows but here is how to make it happen.

MAKE A RHUBARB PIE

Also here is the recipe and then the story behind it.

Fresh Rhubarb Pie

For mild flavor use only pink Rhubarb if tender and pink.  Cut into 1 inch pieces (one pound makes 2 cups)

mix together - 1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar, 6 tablespoons flour, and 4 cups cutup rhubarb

Mix thoroughly then pour into pan - dot with 1 1/3 tsp. butter
Cover top with crust- sprinkle with sugar
bake 425 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes

I was lucky in that my folks loved rhubarb and we raised it in our garden.  There are secrets to raising rhubarb in Oklahoma.  First you have to put it where it gets lots of cold during the winter.  We planted it on the east side of a building where all the snow would pile on it during the winter.  We also had lots of composted cow manure from the cattle pens to give it a great amount of fertilizer.  Don't eat the leaves as I remember mom saying they would make you sick, just eat the stalks.

Dad was born in Anoka, Minnesota and they had lots of rhubarb up there and his mom would make pies and sometimes just cook the stalks in a pan for a great treat.  Rhubarb jelly is also excellent.  Rhubarb is very tart and it takes sugar to give it that tart/sweet flavor.

You already know that cinnamon rolls and chili are my favorite food groups but I have to add one more, rhubarb pie.

Well what do you learn in the Osage?

  • it takes a lot of bull crap to make good rhubarb and a lot of snow
  • Cooking in the country is about as good as it ever gets and my mom was the best
  • Hard work makes you appreciate rhubarb pie
  • when things are given to you by the government remember they stole it from someone who worked hard and gave it to you so they can get your vote - 
    • in private life it is called bribery and you can go to jail for the same thing
Thanks for your time,
gary@thepioneerman.com

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