Most weeks, I participate in a produce co-op that I love. We order at the beginning of the week, and the produce baskets are ready to take home on Saturdays. The produce is always fresh and tasty, and the really fun part is that we never know what we will get! We almost always get the weekly use apples, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes and lettuce, but then there are always several other items thrown in that are a surprise! I LOVE SURPRISES!! (Ok, truthfully, I only love GOOD surprises, but I digress.)
One week recently, when I looked into my prized weekly basket to see what goodness hid just inside, I saw a bunch of weird-looking, red-celery-like, stalks. “What is it?” the kids asked. “I think it’s rhubarb…” I said, hesitantly. I had never tasted rhubarb, and was therefore a little wary. But in the spirit of being willing to try new things, I set it aside for a moment to look for a recipe. “What do I do with RHUBARB???” I wondered as I perused miles of recipes on Pinterest.
Most recipes I came across were for strawberry-rhubarb pie. I didn’t feel like making a pie today. Or this week.
Next, next, next. Except for those pie recipes just kept popping up. Hmmmmm…
This got me to thinking that maybe I should be considering combining the mysterious rhubarb with the strawberries that also came in the week’s variety. Like, maybe the public knew something that I did not. Well folks, I did it, and the public was RIGHT!!!! No, I did not make a pie. However, I did come up with a little recipe of my own for Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler! Of course, if you’ve been around here for a while, you know I made this gluten free so that my whole family could enjoy it. To say it was a hit is an understatement. Everyone liked it so much that our son even asked for it to be made in lieu of a birthday cake for him!
And to think, we likely never would have tried rhubarb at all had it not been for the fact that it appeared in our produce basket order! We would have missed out! This gets me to thinking…What else do we miss out on on life simply because it is unfamiliar to us; and therefore we have preconceived notions about it that prevent us from considering it as an option??? *Me: looks around, feeling accused and somewhat sheepish*
- Do we talk to new people, or avoid it?
- Do we seek out opportunities to serve where we haven’t before?
- Do we teach our children to try new activities by modeling that behavior?
- Do we allow ourselves to experience adventures by exploring sights that were unseen by us before?
- Do we listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, encouraging us quietly to wade into waters we haven’t before, knowing He will be with us, or do we wait in the stillness because it is more comfortable?
There are so many more questions we could explore today, but I think we will leave it at this for now. It’s already a lot to ponder! So, mamas, I encourage you to look for the joy in the journey…maybe while enjoying some of your very own Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler with your pen and your journal. Until next time!
Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler
Ingredients
- 3 C rhubarb, chopped
- 2 1/4 C white sugar
- 3/4 C brown sugar
- 1/2 C +2 T butter (melted)
- 2 1/4 C flour
- 1 1/2 milk (any kind)
- 3 C strawberries, chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- For Filling: Combine rhubarb, strawberries, 3/4 C white sugar, 3/4 C brown sugar, 2 T butter, 3/4 C flour in saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat until rhubarb is softened, stirring frequently.
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- For Cobbler: Mix all remaining ingredients in a bowl.
- Pour cobbler mixture into greased 9X13 casserole pan.
- Pour strawberry-rhubarb compote from saucepan evenly over the cobbler mixture.
- Bake at 425F for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown on top.