Sleevendog, My rhubarb is really growing well. I've been pulling it and giving it away.

Your post has me wanting to branch out and use rhubarb in other ways besides pies and desserts.

Question though, I never let my rhubarb flower. As soon as I see a flower, I pull it. I was told that it was undesirable to let rhubarb bolt. Was that wrong?

Would you please share some of your savory sauces using rhubarb.

Thanks ~Ann

Do I live near either of you? I love rhubarb.

I just HAVE to see those flower stalks. They are so gorgeous! ...then i pull them before they go nuts. I do think pulling or cutting extends the season. One other wild patch i often let go and it does stop producing well before thanksgiving.
The two sauces i made yesterday did turn out very nice.
The basic sauce...

In a heavy bottom pot, i use enameled cast iron, my small 3qrt, (i think it is 3 qrt-ish)

low flame, heat tblsp olive oil.
add 2-4 cloves garlic
one onion sliced and diced chunky
2-4 stalks celery, i love celery
let the veg saute' until onions begin to 'clear'
then add 4-6 cups chopped rhubarb
simmer until rhubarb softens and looses its shape
-might take 20 minutes but if it dries out just add a bit of water
-mine has never dried out because i use a low flame but could happen.
-let cool but still warm, puree with a stick blender or reg blender

Done! Now do what you want. (smells heavenly)

Divide it up into 2 or 3 dishes and experiment.

-add tomato, whostershire, smoked paprika, chipotle, chili powder, maple syrup/honey
-add red pepper, fresh cilantro,lime, a dollup of non-fat greek yogurt etc
-wasabi, chopped olives, halved grapes, chopped apple, etc
-grainy mustard and apple cider vinegar/ or balsamic
(a little paprika and mustard powder will richen the color)
-combinations of any of the above to suit your favorite flavors.
Blend again or leave the additions chunky for distinctive flavors
-a bit of salt and pepper
-no need for added fats or butter at all

(your friends will freak if you bring a few sauces to a bbq party...mine do and so much better that a bottle sauce by making one spicy, one savory, one slightly sweet...)

I like to use my neighbors homemade maple syrup but i'm running out and don't want to beg, lol. So i just opened a package of, new to me, Madhava Organic Coconut sugar, that smells heavenly of rich caramelized honey/maple syrup. Used it for the first time last night. We don't like too sweet and still get the rhubarb flavor but it needs a tiny bit of sweet to balance the tart.

Hope that helps since i do not use or write down exact recipes.
Just don't let the initial sauce over-cook...just soft for full rhubarb flavor.

it is free! and abundant if established in your garden.

haha, good cartoon.
An english friend of mine grew up in an orphanage. She actually has fond memories of rhubarb and it was their only treat...a fresh stalk dipped in sugar in the months that it was harvested. Kinda sad but she still loves it.

Two rhubarbs

One day two rhubarbs, who were best friends, were walking together down the street. They stepped off the curb and a speeding car came around the corner and ran one of them over. The uninjured rhubarb called 911 and helped his injured friend as best he was able. The injured rhubarb was taken to emergency at the hospital and rushed into surgery. After a long and agonizing wait, the doctor finally appeared. He told the uninjured rhubarb, "I have good news, and I have bad news. The good news is that your friend is going to pull through." "The bad news is that he's going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life".

source: http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/foodjokes/rhubarbjokes.html

Here is a link that might be useful: other uses for rhubarb

I didn't grow up in an orphanage, but rhubarb stalks dipped in sugar are one of my fondest childhood memories! That and being sent out to the raspberry patch with a bowl to pick raspberries to top our cereal on summer mornings.
Jane

I like this.
Make a nice thick custard.Poach the rhubarb and whazz up in a blender. Beat a couple of egg whites until stiff.
Mix the rhubarb and custard (a mix made in heaven) and fold in the egg white. A light and delicious dessert.

You'll find lots of uses for rhubarb on this past CF Cookalong.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rhubarb CF Cookalong

I am not a fan of rhubarb but mixed in custard that might just do it.

After reading the list of other things you can do with it who knew you could use it for hair dye.

Sleevendog, I wish I was in your situation. We absolutely love rhubarb. Our favorite recipe for it is Strawberry Rhubarb pie and I got it from here. I'm also going to try it in muffins and breads since I do a lot of baking for our church's bake sales.

This is sheshe's pie recipe that I used.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

16oz pkg strawberries washed and sliced
3 cups sliced fresh rhubarb. Sliced like celery in small
pieces.
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
Mix all this together in bowl and fill pie
crust. Put dough strips on top. Bake 400 F
for 45-60 min.

It has a slightly different pie crust posted with it, but I used Nathan's Never Fail pie crust recipe instead. And I used ClearJel instead of cornstarch in the pie filling because I had it. So easy and delicious. Oh darn! Now I want some!

I'm a straight rhubarb person... happy to chew on a stalk without sugar. Perhaps my very favorite pie.

I like to make rhubarb wine. Just boil it in water to extract the juices and add a pound of corn sugar per gallon. Probably could benefit from being racked but I just let the fiber settle to the bottom and pour the wine off the top... which is my lazy way of doing all my wines anymore.

Wine is easy to make. Can be made in any gallon glass jug if you buy the right sized stopper and bubble lock from a wine making supply. Probably under $5 for a bubbler lock and stopper. Drinkable after about 2-3 months and nice and clear at about 6 months. Wine yeast is just as harmless as bread yeast... don't be afraid of drinking a little bit as it contains vitamins. Pour off half a glass and mix with soda pop or fruit juice for a homemade "wine cooler".

: )
lyra

How about a rhubarb margarita?

Here is a link that might be useful: http://whippedtheblog.com/2013/04/08/rhubarb-tequila-cocktails/