Month: May 2018

I love eating my rhubarb straight from the bunch.  I pick it and start chewing on it. Yes that was my treat growing up and we got a little bit of sugar to put the ends in if we were good.  So, yes I’m really healthy and who knew I was eating so healthy when I was younger.

Following is a recipe for some Rhubarb tarts. And for all you that can’t take the tangyness of the rhubarb I have included a cajeta (caramel) recipe to put on top.

Rhubarb Tarts

3 T Quick cooking tapioca (process until finely ground)

6 Cups Fresh Rhubarb cut into 1/2″ pieces

3/4 cup of Honey  (honey adds a sweetness that no sugar can match)

1 t grated orange zest

1 t vanilla

1/4 t salt

1/4 t cinnamon

Put all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to boil. After it reaches a boil cover & simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

refrigerate overnight.

Make a double batch (9″) pastry. Cut into 4″ rounds. Place in muffin tins add rhubarb mixture filling half way.  Bake for 12 minutes. Take out and cool

 

Cajeta Sauce.

1 qt goats milk (traditional) can use cows milk

1 cup honey

1 whole cinnamon stick

1/2 t kosher salt

2 t vanilla extract

1/2 t baking soda.

Put all ingredients in a heavy bottom pan making sure it only fills up the pot half way.  Bring to boil stirring constantly for 1 1/2 hours.  Take out cinnamon stick after 1 1/2.  Continue boiling and stirring,  milk will start to thickening and when it turns golden brown and looks thick like caramel its done.  Let cook just a few minutes then put into glass jars and put into refrigerator.  When ready to eat tarts put a little dollop on the tart and try not to eat to many as they are really good…..

 

Sauted Tokyo Bekana Cabbage

4 T Olive Oil

2 T Sesame Seeds

2 Garlic Cloves

2 lbs Tokyo Bekana Cabbage

2 T St. Steve’s Ginger Cordial (non alcohol)

4 t Rice Vinegar

Warm sesame seeds in 2 T  olive oil over Med heat.  Stir until they become fragrant and pop.  Add ginger & cloves saute  1 more minute. Add cabbage 1 T ginger Cordial cover for 1 minute. Uncover & saute for 1 to 2 minutes.  Stir in more cordial (2 T) and rice vinegar to taste.  Serve immediately.

The Asparagus are in and they look very appetizing.  For you wandering woods people it’s time for some Asparagus and fresh picked Morels.  Yes, they are coming up. My son-in-law went to his son’s baseball game on Tuesday and on the outskirts of the field were some Morel mushrooms. I’ve never been that lucky but, they’re ready for sautéing.  Make sure you know what you’re picking because the false morels are up also.

Asparagus and Morel

2lbs      Asparagus

6T        Unsalted butter

½ cup  Shallots

¼ cup  Morels cleaned and halved

1T        Chopped Tarragon

1/4t      Black ground pepper

1T        Lemon Juice

 

Cook asparagus in boiling water for 3 minutes. Transfer to colander and rinse with cold water.

Cook 3T butter in 12” skillet on med/high heat until foaming subsides.  Then add shallots stirring until golden brown, add morels, tarragon and 3T butter and sauté’ 3 more minutes.  Serve with fresh lemon juice.