Every year my patch is raided for a July 1st (Canada Day) gathering of family and friends so I haven't been able to do much with it myself...but this year it went untouched...much to my surprise (and disappointment because I do enjoy the rhubarb punch after the parade).
So I want to harvest said rhubarb and make something out of it but don't really know where to start. For anyone else who is clueless about rhubarb, here's some information for you:
Don't:
- DO NOT eat the leaves....they are poisonous!
- According to wikipedia: Cooking the leaves with soda can make them more poisonous by producing soluable oxalates (I have no idea what those are, but more poisonous sounds like a good enough reason to leave them be).
Do:
- How to Harvest Rhubarb (complete with video)
- The Rhubarb Compedium
- Rhubarb
Recipes:
- http://www.canadianliving.com/recipe-directory/main_ingredient/rhubarb.php
- http://www.rhubarb-central.com/
- http://www.thekitchn.com/tart-and-tangy-homemade-rhubar-121916
- Tip: Whenever one of the women in our family has made rhubarb punch...they typically add 7-Up (or other lemon-lime soda) to it (often in place of the sugar), I personally think it adds!
- Mmmm...rhubarb slushies...yes, the temperatures are currently a little beyond tolerable at the moment!