Belated Rhubarb Tarts in Jars Photos!

It has been brought to my attention that I neglected to post the pictures of the rhubarb tarts that I made for the BBQ last week. So, with much delay, here they are! (In case you are wondering, they were a huge hit! So try this today!)

Just the crust in the jars. Because I'm using 15 oz. PB jars, and that's a wee bit difficult to get the dough in, I cut a circle to put on the bottom, and then rolled the jar along a rectangle of dough to create that shape.

Some corn flakes crumbled in the bottom to attempt to mop up any excess liquid.

A close up of the rhubarb compote cooling, with the extra raw pieces thrown in for texture.

Both jars filled prior to baking and sprinkled with sugar. I just took a bigger piece of dough and attempted to crimp it. Semi-successful.

After baking!

Saving Food Links

Infused Vinegars from Yum in Tum. I'm currently making Chive Vinegar and Spicy Fig Vinegar.

Butternut Squash and Potato Gratin from Hungry Cravings. I think I'll make this tonight.

Chocolate Chiffon Cake from Hungry Cravings. This looks amazing.

Frozen Meyer Lemon Mousse from Hungry Cravings. This looks delicious, and reminds me that I have Mojito Granita in my freezer right now...

Applemoyse from Medieval Cookery. It should be served with...

Snowe from Medieval Cookery as well.

Roasted Turnips from Medieval Cookery look delicious!

Frozen Hot Chocolate from the Tasty Kitchen Blog.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake from Bitter Sweet (a vegan blog) -- I'd probably make a real cheesecake inside there.

Rhubarb Tarts in Jars :-D

Using this simple recipe for using rhubarb and using a basic pie crust (2 c. flour, 1/2 c. butter, 1/3-1/2 c. olive oil, 1 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp. salt, water) I've made little rhubarb tarts in PB jars.

I searched high and low for the pint or half pint jelly jars. (I saw some on the side of the road two weeks ago, and did Mister let me take them home? "Wait until you have a use for them" grrr) But, I pretty much always have PB jars, so instead of four cute little tarts for the picnic tonight, I have two big tarts. (There will be pictures later.)

What I am bringing to the picnic:

-- jug of mojitos
-- pulled pork from this recipe, only slow cooked
-- buns
-- pickles
-- BBQ sauce
-- tarts
-- cups and plates

First Farmer's Market!

The first farmer's market of the year is today. I bought:

-- local BBQ sauce
-- local blue onion sauce
-- rhubarb
-- a gooseberry plant
-- two cucumber plants
-- a summer squash plant
-- a zucchini plant
-- oregano (to plant where my seeds failed to grow)

All in all, a happy farmer's market shopping trip!

Silliness and Links

Candy Witcher: I like her still life work.
Catherine Kernan: I like her work, period.
Crochet star with napkin holder that looks darling.
Make Up Your Mind: a knitted racer-back that I would love to make
Pies Baked in Tiny Jars: 'nuff said.
Wedding Cookie Jar in lieu of a wedding cake. Served with pudding or something.

Costuming Round Up

So, the project is over, the con is done. I made two corsets, a vest and skirt combo, and four bustle skirts based upon this incredibly easy pattern.

The one thing that I would say about the instructions is this: don't worry about it. The designer is apparently overly fussy. That, and I didn't bother to pin the bustle flat -- I pinned it on a form, as any sensible person should do (rather than pin it flat, put it on a form/person, and futz with it for a while).

K -- could we have you and/or mom put on the bustle and just take a snap shot of the back and side views? That'll be quick and easy. Thanks!

Kitchen Thoughts

While I was away in NJ with family this past weekend, Mister cleaned the entire kitchen. Needless to say, this is not just a little bit exciting and rather novel. However, as I walked in to look at his fine work, I realized that (having moved my stereo) the room looked incredibly empty and bare.

I need something along that wall shown above. This is a rental, so tiles or that lovely detailed metal sheeting is out of the question. Trivets? Decorative cutting boards? Mugs? I have no idea.

N.B. Also, looking at that picture again, you can see both of my little ducks! The ducky tea strainer from my sis, and the rounded belly of my ducky tea kettle from my mom. :-P