Rhubarb recipes

Here in Anchorage Alaska on the summer solstice rhubarb is growing like crazy. Many of the Anchorage Breakfast Club members have rhubarb and serve it to their guests.

The garden at Big Bear Bed and Breakfast is looking real nice with flowers in bloom; the Himalayan Blue Poppy is beautiful; and the blossoms for our fruit trees & berries are in abundance. We have blue, purple, yellow and pink flowers blooming all over in our front, side & back yards. Here are a couple rhubarb recipes Big Bear B&B would like to share.

RHUBARB DREAM BARS

1 1/4 c. flour, divided
1/3 c. confectioners sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 cups finely chopped rhubarb
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. flaked coconut

In a bowl, combine 1 c. flour and confectioners sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Pat into lightly greased 13x9x2 baking dish. Bake 13 - 15 minutes at 350 degrees or until edges are lightly browned.

In a bowl combine the sugar and remaining 1/4 c. flour. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in rhubarb, walnuts and coconut; pour over crust. Bake 30 - 35 minutes or until set. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.


RHUBARB SAUCE

1 quart chopped rhubarb
1-1/4 cups water (amount needed varies w/ watering & spring or fall)
1-1/4 cups sugar (amount varies with type of rhubarb -red or green-& personal taste)
1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. red food coloring (amount varies with red or green type rhubarb)

In stainless steel, enamel or teflon lined saucepan, combine rhubarb and water. Bring to boil; immediately reduce heat to simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. Add sugar and red food coloring into hot sauce stirring very gently until sugar dissolved. Try to keep some of the pieces from breaking up. Cool several hours or overnight so color and sugar is absorbed into rhubarb pieces.

Optional additions:
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup crushed pineapple
reduced sugar by 1/2 cup and add 1- 3 oz. package sugar free strawberry gelatin.

Caroline at Camai Bed and Breakfast also has posted a rhubarb recipe for Camai B&B Rhubarb Coffee Cake on her blog.