A spring evening

I'm not sure there is anything quite as wonderful as a spring evening, with all the windows open and a temperature of 70 degrees and the air full of the sounds of peepers and tree frogs.

Rhubarb Crumb Bars

It’s rhubarb season!! Although most people use a knife, I go out with my trusty little Fiskars garden shears and cut it. 

This recipe comes from one I found on Martha Stewart’s page. 

Rhubarb Crumb Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8x8 or 9-inch round pan with cooking spray.

Streusel:

6 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

Whisk together butter, sugar, and salt. Add flour and mix with a fork until large crumbs form. 

Cake:

Mix: 1/2 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 

with 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 cup flour.

In another bowl mix: 

3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

In the electric mixer mix:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

turn down speed and add the flour mixture.

Spread batter in prepared pan

Sprinkle with rhubarb 

and top with streusel

Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. 

This was really great! You could substitute strawberries for some of the rhubarb, but this first time I wanted to try it with just rhubarb. You may top it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if you wish. I am amazed at how very many rhubarb recipes there are, and a fair few of them may be found under the 'recipes' tab! 

Lots more foodie subjects at Weekend Cooking.

Today's Poem by Robert Frost

Spring Pools

These pools that, though in forests, still reflect

The total sky almost without defect,

And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,

Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,

And yet not out by any brook or river,

But up by roots to bring dark foliage on. 

The trees that have it in their pent-up buds

To darken nature and be summer woods -

Let them think twice before they use their powers

To blot out and drink up and sweep away

These flowery waters and these watery flowers

From snow that melted only yesterday. 

Robert Frost

photo taken by Tom on April 28

One year old today!

Here is Campbell Walker at his birthday party on Sunday. The theme was Where The Wild Things Are. He stayed dressed in his Max outfit for about a minute!