This is the time for a perfect dessert with rhubarb. Make sure you try this, it is truly awsome.
- 4 cups sliced rhubarb
- 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp quick cooking tapioca
- 2 tbsp chopped ginger in syrup
- 1 tbsp grated orange zest
- combine and set aside.
- 6 sheets phyllo pastry
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1/3 cup fine bread crumbs, divided
- Icing sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place one sheet phyllo on clean work surface. Cover remaining sheets with damp towel so not to dry out. On each sheet cover with melted butter and sprinkle bread crumbs. Repeat for all six layers.
Spread rhubarb mixture on top, leaving two inch border. Fold in sides, and roll up jelly roll style.
Place seam side down on parchment lined cookie sheet and cut five slots in top of pastry to allow steam out.
Bake for thirty minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Trust me, you can’t make enough of this stuff, even when you say you don’t like rhubarb…..you will!
My friend Judith gave me this recipe many years ago and with her permission it is now here for you to try. Too good to be true!
Mushroom Dip
Tasty, tasty, tasty! What else can I say?
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 4 1/2 cups chopped mushrooms
- pinch of salt
- 2 cloves of crushed garlic
- 1 tbsp. parsley (breath saver??)
- 3/4 cup thick Greek-style yogurt
- 3/4 cups sour cream
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
Heat the oil in a frypan and add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Cook over a medium heat until all the moisture has evaporated and they are very soft (6-8 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Serve with crackers. Serve this only at room temperature.
You can, if there is any left, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for no longer that 2 days. If you use older mushrooms you get a stronger flavour.
Mother’s Day 2012
Mother’s are a special kind of human being. Some are good…some not so good…some super special but all are Mothers. To be a mother I feel you are chosen for reasons unknown or unspoken for that particular child given you.
We are given hearts that expand with every movement, word, gurgle, laugh, hug or kiss. We have broken hearts when our child is hurt or says hurtful things to us when they really don’t know what else to do.
We go every step of the way: kindergarten, Grades 1 thru 12, perhaps College or University or trade…..always watching from a distance to catch them when they fall or are hurt because of a lost love or dying friend, question them to understand their thinking on a choice made and encourage all the way in what they do and do well.
I ache so much for my daughter who lives far away and a mother who has since left us for a better home with her beloved husband (my dad). We remember all the times we have shared and hope to continue sharing.
Yup! Mom’s are special people. I am one and know that only I could love my child with the fervor and intensity that I do; only I could pray every day for safety in all actions she takes, wisdom in her thinking, and cry when we don’t communicate more often, fully knowing we love each other.
When we moved away from my parents, I never realized just how much we were missed, even though we spoke daily for 20+ years.
To one and all, Happy Mother’s Day and may God Bless each and every one with riches and treasures greater than what money could ever purchase.
.
Three Day Respite
Sometimes we are blessed with friends. Sometimes a short while, others a lifetime. I have two of those friends and when you include one of the husbands, it would make three. Let me explain about friendship.
Our parents met in Grade one and kept that friendship flowing and growing for over 80 years. That alone is some feat. Now comes three girls…we have been friends, basically, from the womb. Wendy and Judith. Judith’s husband, Len, has been around for more than 52 years, so I guess that must absolutely count. So now our friendship is rallying at 69 years, and counting.
The last (baby) to join the group is Bill. He is the baby in the group both in time in the “family” and age. Pfft!
The laughs are so many our cheeks hurt; we all share in the cooking both breakfasts, dinners and it seems that lunch is an after-thought. We hadn’t shared that kind of a time together since last year when we moved away and it had been 15 years since we spent 4 days together at the same location.
If you are so lucky to have good friends, those who laugh and cry with you and know all your warts and still love you….hang on as tight as you can. It doesn’t come to everyone and is a treasure that money cannot buy. Bill, by the way has been in the group for close to 18-20 years and my husband is just ahead at 24 years.
Everyone get along, and we always have so many memories to talk about, what we all like, what programs we watch on TV and why. Jokes a bound….so much our cheeks hurt from laughing.
Good friends, good times and great memories still in the making. What a wonderful life!
Dark Chocolate Lover’s Cake
For those of us who love dark chocolate, this is the one recipe to make…..over and over again!
- 3 eggs, separated
- 2/3 cup softened butter
- 3/4 cup berry sugar
- 5 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat egg whites until stiff and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy and beat in the egg yolks and melted chocolate.
Stir in the flour and milk alternately until well blended. Stir in the pecans and vanilla.
Fold in the egg whites until just combined.
In a greased 9 inch springform pan, spread the batter. Bake for about 38-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before trying to remove from the pan. Cool completelybefore icing.
Icing
- 5 oz. bittersweet chocolate
- 1/4 cup butter
- 3 tbsp. cream
- 1 cup sifted icing sugar
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans for garnish
Melt chocolate with butter and cream in a microwave, medium power, for 2-3 minutes. Lightly whisk in the icing sugar and vanilla until really smooth. Spread on the cake and garnish with the pecans.
Too yummy but remember YOU MUST SHARE….maybe!