Rhubarb Iced Tea and Goodies!!

So I have heard a lot and I mean A LOT about this rhubarb plant and I had never seen it in stores and was very curious to see 1) what it looked like,  2) what it tasted like and 3) I really wanted to post about it. But I couldn't find it in stores anywhere so I simply enjoyed all the recipes I saw from other blogs featuring this supposed rhubarb. But then I went to Sprouts and found it! And honestly it looks like red celery, doesn't have a smell or anything so eh. I grabbed a couple of stalks and called it a day. I started looking at what I could make and the options are unlimited there's pie, cobbler, curd, jelly, tea, salad, baked, so many to choose from, but I settled for tea because currently I suffer from the mixer-woes, I've gone fully colonial*. The tea was sweet and still had a little tarty-ness but it was very good nonetheless. One thing though is: how did no one mention rhubarb is a very tart-y/ bitter celery-look-alike, this tea recipe actually called for 1/3 cup of sugar and no...that was not enough. But at last the rhubarb mystery is over! I can't wait to try other recipes with it I just need to find it in stores again.

*Mixer-woes & Fully colonial: terms used by a baker and blogger (me, I made these up) when they lack a beautiful KitchenAid Stand Mixer to fully be a baking adventuress and reach baking goddess potential; fully colonial is baking like in 1776 sans mixer.

Celery-look-alike: Rhubarb

A lot has been happening! Brian and I we went to A-Kon (anime convention) early this month and it was amazing! I had no idea what/who some of the characters were but it definitely was fun to be able to go, but more on that on my next post. I have also been studying like a hard-ass for my Behavioral Neuroscience class which basically I learn about the brain and how it works: I know I am pretty cray-cray for taking that class over the summer. But it had to be done. Also I received a wonderful package from Burton's Maplewood Farm! A few months ago I entered the Sweet Victory Challence contest and although I did not win it was very sweet of them to send this package along with a hand-written note, Thank you to everyone at Burton's Maplewood Farm. :)

My fave flour!! And a hefty supply of 100% pure maple syrup from their farm.

Also enclosed was the King Arthur catalog and WOW I want everything!! It has recipes and all sorts of baking products. Oh the possibilities of baking and cooking too with maple syrup. Definitely be entering next year!

Super cool back of the maple syrup. I only wish I could have been there to enjoy the festival and the maple-ness in the air.

This pitcher was full about 7 cups to the top

Rhubarb Iced Tea

 Ingredients

• 4 stalks rhubarb (cut into small pieces)
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• berries (optional)
• mint (optional)

 Directions

In a sauce pan pour 8 cups of water and rhubarb place over stove at medium heat until they boil. Let it simmer in the saucepan for a full hour. After the 1 hour simmer the water should be a pinkish color drain the water from the sauce pan and place into a large pitcher, add sugar and stir very well. Place inside the refrigerator until cool. Serve with ice, mint or berries if you like.