• Rhubarb Bars

    From Ben Collver@1:105/500 to All on Saturday, January 31, 2026 06:04:55
    MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

    Title: Rhubarb Bars
    Categories: Bars, Cookies
    Yield: 1 Batch

    1 c Brown sugar; packed
    1/2 c Butter; softened
    1/2 c Margarine; softened
    1/2 c All-purpose flour
    1/2 ts Baking soda
    1/2 ts Salt
    1/2 c Pecans; chopped (optional)
    1/2 c Quick-cooking rolled oats
    3 c Fresh rhubarb;
    - cut into small pieces
    2 c Water; boiling
    1/4 c Water; cold
    2 tb Corn starch
    1/2 c Granulated sugar
    1 ts Vanilla

    Heat oven to 375?F. Cream brown sugar, butter, and margarine. Combine
    flour, soda, and salt; blend into brown sugar mixture. Stir in pecans
    and oats. Press half of dough into 13x9x2" pan and set aside. Place
    rhubarb in heat-proof container. Pour boiling water over the rhubarb
    and let it stand 10 minutes to soften. Drain and set rhubarb aside.

    Combine cold water and corn starch in saucepan. Stir in sugar and
    rhubarb. Heat to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook and stir
    about 2 minutes until thick and clear. Cool slightly. Stir in
    vanilla. Spread filling over pastry in pan. Sprinkle remaining dough
    evenly over filling.

    Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown and bubbly. Cool and cut
    into bars.

    Note:

    If you don't like the appearance of cooked rhubarb, you can add a bit
    a red food colouring to give it eye-appeal.

    Recipe FROM: 10,000 Tastes of Minnesota

    Posted by: Florence Thompson

    MMMMM
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  • From Ruth Haffly@1:396/45.28 to Ben Collver on Monday, February 02, 2026 14:00:19
    Hi Ben,

    Don't know if it's the weather we've had the past couple of weeks or
    something else, but this is the first Fido I've had in about 10 days. We escaped the worst of it--first storm gave us rain, snow, sleet and
    freezing rain but a total of maybe 2 inches. This past week end we were
    set to get slammed but our area was in a "dry pocket" and we ended up
    with about 3.5 inches of snow. Down in Swansboro (on the coast) where we
    used to live, they got 17 inches. First week end of March, 1980, when we
    were there, that area got 18 inches. Anyway, we stayed in; I made
    chicken soup on Saturday and split pea soup yesterday. The snow is
    melting off but possibility of black ice tonight/tomorrow morning is
    keeping us home for a few more days.


    Title: Rhubarb Bars
    Categories: Bars, Cookies
    Yield: 1 Batch

    I've got a slightly different version of rhubarb bars I'll have to dig
    up and post. It has ginger, both candied and powdered in it, nicely complimenting the rhubarb.


    ---
    Catch you later,
    Ruth
    rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


    ... Mind... Mind... Let's see, I had one of those around here someplace.

    --- PPoint 3.01
    * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)
  • From Ben Collver@1:105/500 to Ruth Haffly on Wednesday, February 04, 2026 06:12:45
    Re: Rhubarb Bars
    By: Ruth Haffly to Ben Collver on Mon Feb 02 2026 02:00 pm

    Hi Ruth,

    Don't know if it's the weather we've had the past couple of weeks or something else, but this is the first Fido I've had in about 10 days. We escaped the worst of it--first storm gave us rain, snow, sleet and
    freezing rain but a total of maybe 2 inches. This past week end we were
    set to get slammed but our area was in a "dry pocket" and we ended up with about 3.5 inches of snow. Down in Swansboro (on the coast) where we used
    to live, they got 17 inches. First week end of March, 1980, when we were there, that area got 18 inches. Anyway, we stayed in; I made chicken soup on Saturday and split pea soup yesterday. The snow is melting off but possibility of black ice tonight/tomorrow morning is keeping us home for a few more days.

    Wow, sounds like you're having a real heat wave.
    "Oh Susanna don't you cry."
    I don't blame you for staying in.

    It's been warm here this week. I took the chainsaw to some pine branches
    and tree-sized photinia trunks. Yesterday i took the pruning saw to the
    fig tree and got quite a workout. I got about half way through and i'm optimistic about finishing the job today.

    I've got a slightly different version of rhubarb bars I'll have to dig up and post. It has ginger, both candied and powdered in it, nicely complimenting the rhubarb.

    I searched my database and i don't think i have that recipe yet. The ginger sounds like a nice touch.

    MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

    Title: Gooseberry Bergamot Jelly
    Categories: Jams
    Yield: 4 Pints

    4 qt Fresh gooseberries
    3 Handfuls bergamot leaves;
    - heaping, chopped
    12 oz White sugar; per pint juice

    Wash and sort gooseberries. Place in a large enameled pot and crush
    berries. Add chopped bergamot leaves. Add enough water to cover and
    simmer until soft, then pour into a clean jelly bag. Let drip
    overnight.

    Measure the juice and add the sugar. Stir over a low heat to dissolve
    the sugar, then bring to a rolling boil. Boil until jelly sheets on a
    spoon. Skim if a skin forms on the surface. Pour into hot sterilized
    jars and seal.

    The bergamot is not the European bergamot, but rather the North
    American herb, Monarda clidyma, and related species.

    Recipe by John Hartman

    MMMMM
    --- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
    * Origin: The Fool's Quarter, fqbbs.synchro.net (1:105/500)
  • From Ruth Haffly@1:396/45.28 to Ben Collver on Thursday, February 05, 2026 12:02:04
    Hi Ben,

    there, that area got 18 inches. Anyway, we stayed in; I made chicken soup on Saturday and split pea soup yesterday. The snow is melting off but possibility of black ice tonight/tomorrow morning is keeping us home for a few more days.

    Wow, sounds like you're having a real heat wave.
    "Oh Susanna don't you cry."
    I don't blame you for staying in.

    The snow is gradually melting off but today's high is supposed to be
    about 35 degrees. A warming trend is to follow; we may hit the 60s next
    week.


    It's been warm here this week. I took the chainsaw to some pine
    branches and tree-sized photinia trunks. Yesterday i took the pruning
    saw to the fig tree and got quite a workout. I got about half way
    through and i'm optimistic about finishing the job today.

    We had some bush pruning done a couple of weeks ago but Steve still has
    to prune the fig tree and flower beds before they start putting out new
    growth. I'll put a bug in his ear about doing it the latter part of this
    month as we'll be gone for a bit, mid month.


    I've got a slightly different version of rhubarb bars I'll have to dig up and post. It has ginger, both candied and powdered in it, nicely complimenting the rhubarb.

    I searched my database and i don't think i have that recipe yet. The ginger sounds like a nice touch.

    It is; I don't know if I'll find it before we go away because my mind
    set will be on what has to go into the camper. There are 2 pot lucks at
    the gathering we're going to so I have to make sure I have ingredients
    (so I don't have to buy them elsewhere) and tools. I'll be doing the
    crockpot goulash I found the recipe for last month; we have an Instant
    Pot (not the name brand) in the camper already. I'll post the recipe for
    that also.

    ---
    Catch you later,
    Ruth
    rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


    ... Junk: stuff we throw away. Stuff: junk we keep.

    --- PPoint 3.01
    * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)
  • From Ben Collver@1:105/500 to Ruth Haffly on Saturday, February 07, 2026 06:38:01
    Re: Rhubarb Bars
    By: Ruth Haffly to Ben Collver on Thu Feb 05 2026 12:02 pm

    Hi Ruth,

    The snow is gradually melting off but today's high is supposed to be about 35 degrees. A warming trend is to follow; we may hit the 60s next week.

    We had some bush pruning done a couple of weeks ago but Steve still has to prune the fig tree and flower beds before they start putting out new growth. I'll put a bug in his ear about doing it the latter part of this month as we'll be gone for a bit, mid month.

    I did more pruning on the fig tree, but i underestimated the amount of work. It's going to take me more than two days. Yesterday i used the chainsaw to
    saw a bunch of photinia branches. The forecast called for rainy days so i
    was stocking up on "trashy" firewood. Photinia burns hot and fast. It
    isn't optimal, but it's free and it keeps me warm. I plan to finish the
    fig tree when the rain stops.

    The other week i picked up a jar of chocolate peanut butter powder at a
    free pile. I was skeptical but put some in my pancake batter. It was a pleasant surprise. The pancakes consistently turn out more fluffy and
    moist and they taste more cake-like, thanks to the generosity of some
    random stranger.

    MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

    Title: Rhubarb And Orange Tart
    Categories: Tarts
    Yield: 4 Servings

    Plain flour; for dusting
    375 g Puff pastry
    30 g Ground almonds
    30 g Brioche crumbs
    1/2 Orange;
    - finely grated zest of
    5 tb Caster sugar
    1 Egg; beaten
    400 g Rhubarb; up to 500 g
    70 g Soft-set marmalade

    Preparation time: 25 minutes
    Cooking time: 30 minutes

    An antidote to dull, grey days.

    Preheat the oven to 200?C / 190?C fan/gas mark 6. Put a baking
    sheet into the oven.

    Lightly flour your work surface and roll 375 g puff pastry out to
    make a 25 cm square.

    Using a knife, firmly mark a 2 cm border in from the edge, but don't
    cut all the way through the pastry. Transfer this to a sheet of
    greaseproof paper.

    Mix 30 g ground almonds, 30 g brioche crumbs and the finely grated
    zest of 1/2 orange with 3 tb of the caster sugar.

    Prick the pastry inside the border with a fork and "knock up" the
    sides. You do this by tapping the sides with a knife that is held
    horizontally.

    Sprinkle the almond and sugar mixture evenly inside the border.

    Brush the border with 1 beaten egg, being careful not to let it drip
    down the sides.

    Trim 400 to 500 g rhubarb and cut it into 10 cm lengths.

    Lay these pieces on to the pastry then sprinkle with the remaining
    2 tb caster sugar.

    Transfer the pastry--still on the paper--to a baking sheet then put
    this on top of the heated sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Leave the tart
    to cool.

    Melt 70 g soft-set marmalade in a saucepan with 1 tb water then push
    the mixture through a sieve to remove any bits of rind.

    Let this glaze cool a little then paint it over the rhubarb and the
    rim of the tart. Leave to set.

    Recipe by Diana Henry

    Recipe FROM: <https://www.telegraph.co.uk/recipes/baking-and-desserts/
    pies-and-tarts/orange-glazed-rhubarb-tart-recipe/>

    MMMMM
    --- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
    * Origin: The Fool's Quarter, fqbbs.synchro.net (1:105/500)
  • From Ruth Haffly@1:396/45.28 to Ben Collver on Saturday, February 07, 2026 15:10:52
    Hi Ben,


    We had some bush pruning done a couple of weeks ago but Steve still has to prune the fig tree and flower beds before they start putting out new growth. I'll put a bug in his ear about doing it the latter part of this month as we'll be gone for a bit, mid month.

    I did more pruning on the fig tree, but i underestimated the amount of work. It's going to take me more than two days. Yesterday i used the chainsaw to saw a bunch of photinia branches. The forecast called for rainy days so i was stocking up on "trashy" firewood. Photinia burns
    hot and fast. It isn't optimal, but it's free and it keeps me warm.
    I plan to finish the fig tree when the rain stops.

    We had a branch break off our fig tree several weeks ago so Steve broke
    it into smaller pieces and is trying to root them. I think he's down to
    4, of which we do see signs of one or two developing leaves. We still
    have small patches of snow so not doing any pruning or planting yet.


    The other week i picked up a jar of chocolate peanut butter powder at
    a free pile. I was skeptical but put some in my pancake batter. It
    was a pleasant surprise. The pancakes consistently turn out more
    fluffy and
    moist and they taste more cake-like, thanks to the generosity of some random stranger.

    Sounds interesting; I'd go for the chocolate but I have a strong dislike
    for peanut butter in any way, shape, form, fashion. (Yes, there's
    history behind it but I'll save that for another time.)

    ---
    Catch you later,
    Ruth
    rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


    ... Mind... Mind... Let's see, I had one of those around here someplace.

    --- PPoint 3.01
    * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)