Great Lakes Crisp

Great Lakes Crisp

Julia   

There is a little spot off the highway in north woods of the Frozen Tundra that makes the best pies.  Of course, they use nuts, so I’ve never been able to eat one, but Frog Prince tells me they are the best.  Inspired by their menu, I decided to come home and make myself a Great Lakes Crisp using their medley of rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and apples. 

It was delightful!  A new summer favorite for when you want something off the beaten path. 

Great Lakes Crisp – Inspired by Betty’s Pies

Ingredients

• 1 medium, tart apple (e.g., Granny Smith)
• 1 C sliced rhubarb
• 3 C mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries)
• 1/4 C sugar
• 2 T corn starch
• 3-4 T butter, softened
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1 C oats, old fashioned
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/3 C flour

Directions

Begin by mixing all the fruit in a large bowl.  You can use fresh or frozen berries, apples and rhubarb.  I used frozen because that is what I had on hand when I decided to make this!  You’ll want about 5 C of fruit. 

Stir in 1/4 C sugar and 2 T corn starch. 

In a second bowl, mix together 1/2 C brown sugar, 1 C oats and 1/3 C flour.  Stir in 1 tsp. cinnamon.  Cut in the 3-4 T softened butter with a fork until well combined. 

Arrange the fruit mixture in a lightly greased 9x13 pan.  Top with the oatmeal topping. 

Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes, until bubbly and the topping is crisp. 

Cool for 30 minutes before serving, then add that ice cream and enjoy! 

Rhubarb Lemon Cookies

Rhubarb Lemon Cookies

Julia   

These cookies, friends, are fabulous.  Tangy and sweet, the combo is nearly irresistable.  I was hesitant to use rhubrarb in a cookie, but it was worth the risk. 

Rhubarb Lemon Cookies – Adapted from PickleBums

Ingredients

• 1 stick + 5 T butter, softened
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 C white whole wheat flour
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. corn starch
• 1 C rhubarb
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 2 T lemon juice
• 1/2 T sugar

Directions

Add 1 C rhubarb and 1/2 T sugar to a bowl.  Add in 1 tsp. lemon zest and 2 T lemon juice and allow the mixutre to sit while you make the dough.  Then, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.   

Cream together the softened butter (13 T), with 1/2 C brown and 1/2 C white sugar.  Mix in 1 egg.  

Next, mix together 2 C white whole wheat flour (measure just a little shy of 2 C), 3/4 tsp. sald, 3 tsp. baking powder and 2 tsp. corn starch. 

Add these dry ingredients to the wet ones and stir until a stiff dough forms. 

Add the rhubarb mixture to the dough and stir until combined. 

Scoop out the dough and place 1 T balls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.  I love using ice cream scoopers to do this!  The cookies do not spread too much, so you can easily get 12-16 on a cookie sheet. 

Bake for 10-15 minutes in your 350 degree oven.  Cookies will brown slightly around the edges, but will not get brown like your typical cookie.  Do not overbake. 

Cool and enjoy!   

Rhubarb Banana Apple Muffins

Rhubarb Banana Apple Muffins

Julia   

Our 16 month old has kept us on our toes over the last few months.  She’s running, climbing, playing, and of course eating.  As you can imagine, feeding her good, whole foods, is of the utmost importance to us.  She loves her fruits and veggies, and pretty much everything else. 

These muffins are full of whole wheat flour, oats, banana, eggs, buttermilk and rhubarb.  Our little E polished off two for breakfast.  That’s a win! 

Banana Rhubarb Muffins – Adapted from My Project Mommyhood

Ingredients

• 3 3/4 C white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 C old fashioned oats
• 2 C brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 3 over ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 C buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 3/4 C applesauce
• 1/4 C olive oil
• 3 C chopped/sliced rhubarb

Directions

Begin by mixing together all the dry ingredients, in a large bowl: 3 3/4 C white whole wheat flour, 1/2 C oats, 2 C brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.  Stir well. 

In a second bowl, combine 3 mashed bananas, 2 eggs, 1 1/2 C buttermilk, 3/4 C applesauce, 1/4 C olive oil and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla.  Stir well.  Then, add to the dry ingredients and stir until moist and combined. 

Stir in 3 C chopped rhubarb. 

Lightly grease 32 muffin cups (or use liners), and pre-heat your oven to 375.  Using an ice cream scoop, add 2 scoops (about 1/4 C) muffin batter to each muffin cup.  Bake for 16 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.   

Cool on a wire cooling rack and serve after cooling.  Makes 32 muffins.  Store extra muffins in an airtight container in the freezer.  Keep the ones you want to eat on the counter, but don’t keep those air tight! 

Thanks for hanging in there with me during our busy season; I hope to share some more yummy recipes this summer. 

Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp

Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp

Julia   

I have a delightful spring recipe for you today!  Our garden is a bit slow to get started this spring, but our rhubarb is ready to go. 

This dessert is delicious and I know that I have mentioned before my great love for raspberry and rhubarb.  For those of you a little hesitant, think about strawberry rhubarb and then imagine a better, more perfect match.   

Trust me. 

Once you try this combo, you’ll be hard pressed to go back to strawberry rhubarb. 

Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 C chopped rhubarb
• 2 1/2 C raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/3 C sugar (more, if you prefer sweeter dessert, up to 1/2 C)
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 C corn starch
• 1 C old fashioned oats
• 1/2 C whole wheat flour
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• pinch of nutmeg
• 5 T butter, softened

Directions

Begin by combining the 2 1/2 C sliced rhubarb and 2 1/2 C raspberries in a large bowl. Toss the berry mixture in 1/3 C sugar and 1/4 C corn starch. 

Add in 1 tsp. lemon juice and stir well. 

In a second bowl, combine 1 C oats, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1/2 C whole wheat flour, 1/4 tsp. salt and a pinch of nutmeg.  Using a folk, cut in the softened butter until the topping mixture is crumbly. 

Lightly grease an 9x9 square baking dish and arrange the rhubarb raspberry mixture across the base of the baking dish.

Top with the oat mixture. 

Bake the crisp in an oven heated to 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  The topping will be lightly browned at this point and the fruit wonderfully cooked. 

Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream, if desired. 

Enjoy!