This first April Weekend was supposed
to be for raking (and maybe uncovering
some rhubarb?), but because of the
"snowstorm today" I guess that won't
be happening. Crazy Ontario Weather!

We will just have to be patient, I guess.


With Easter Coming, I thought you
might like to try a few rhubarb
dishes that could compliment your
Easter Menu. Rhubarb goes very
well with Lamb and especially
over Ham as a glaze.

Rhubarb Maple Pecan Cake

1 1/3 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
2 2/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb

Frosting:

12 oz cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp. maple syrup
2 cups toasted ground pecans

Directions
Preheat oven to 350
Grease and flour two 9 inch pans

Cream brown sugar and milk together
Scrape bowl and add eggs, vanilla
and buttermilk.
Combine flour, salt, cinnamon,
and baking soda together.
Mix well with sugar mixture.
Fold in rhubarb.
Divide batter between the two
pans and bake for 30-40 minutes
or until done. Cool for 15 minutes.

Frosting:

Beat cold cream cheese and powder
sugar until smooth.
While mixer is beating add whipping
cream one cup at a time slowly, never
allowing mixture to get too runny.
Scrape bowl after each cup is added.

After all cream has been added and
resembles whipped cream, add cinnamon
and maple syrup.
Beat only enough to distribute it
throughout frosting.

To Frost:

Place one cake layer top side down
on plate.
Put 1 1/2 cups frosting on layer
and spread evenly on top only.
Place second layer top side up
on frosted layer.
Frost sides and top.
Press the toasted ground pecans
into the sides of cake and sprinkle
the rest on top.

Spiced Rhubarb For Easter Lamb,
Easter Ham or Biscuits

You could split this in half of course

10 cups diced fresh or frozen rhubarb
1 cup cider vinegar
4 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in a large pot.
Bring to a rapid boil. Reduce heat
and let simmer for 1 hour.

Pour into jars and refrigerate.

More Ham Recipes & Glazes


Out of Rhubarb?

One of the best places to buy rhubarb in the
Spring is Lennox Farms, about 12 kilometres
south of Shelburne Ontario on Highway 124 at
Conover Corners.

Bill and Diane French have been growing rhubarb
there for about 20 years and sell freshly washed
stalks or rhubarb already diced for the freezer.

Best of all, they take some of the baby
rhubarb and grow it in the barn over the
winter so they can offer winter rhubarb
in January.

Nice to be able to get it diced!

Gluten-Free Rhubarb Crumble

4 stalks cut rhubarb
2 tsp. muscovado sugar
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 tsp. vanilla

Place above ingredients in a shallow
pan and bake at full heat 10 min.
Cook until rhubarb is tender.
1/3 cup gluten free flour
2 1/2 tblsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. muscovado sugar

Mix flour, butter and sugar
with your fingertips until
crumbly. Spread on rhubarb
and bake at 200 degrees for
30 minutes until golden.


"Rhubarb tasted so foul, none abused it,
But for centuries past, people used it.
Served cold, hot or warm,
It worked like a charm,
To clean out the bowels, (Few refused it!)"

Rhubarb diet is a very popular form
of diet in Western Europe.

It's origins can be traced back to
Huangdi Neijing" which is like the
ancient "Medical Chinese Bible"
and all of it's diagnostic methods.

The process involves the intake of
boiled Rhubarb with dairy products
like milk, twice a day. Such a diet
increases the effect of iron from
dairy products on the body, most
the body’s propensity to store fat.

The fact that Rhubarb acts a laxative
may further explain the reasoning for
using it for this purpose.
(I have no doubts about that)

Remember, please feel free to contribute your Rhubarb Family Favorite at

Best Rhubarb Recipes

Have a wonderful Easter, and
see you May.

Until Next Time,
Elizabeth