Browsing Tag

strawberry

Summertime

Meringue-Topped Strawberry Rhubarb Custard Slices

June 26, 2024

Rhubarb, that gorgeously deep-pink vegetable that is most often used as a fruit, keeps really well in the fridge. I learned this accidentally–nearly forgetting the bundle I brought home from the farmer’s market. Finding it while making room for just-picked strawberries, I knew this heirloom recipe would put it to good use.

With a custard filling, meringue topping and shortbread crust, this dessert blends best features of strawberry rhubarb pie and British rhubarb fool:  The rhubarb melts into the creamy filling but retains a nice tart tang, the meringue adds fluffy chew, and the crust doesn’t get soggy. Featured in the second edition of Ebenezer Lutheran Church’s “Desserts Through the Ages,” and given to me by my BFA’s mom (thanks, Mrs. B!) the recipe caption tells us it was Curt S.’s favorite from his mother’s dessert roster.  She made it with five cups of diced rhubarb, which is very good, but it also works very with the addition of fresh strawberries as in photos. Continue Reading…

Gluten/Egg/Dairy Free

Sweetheart Tart: Red Berry and Custard (Gluten-, Dairy- and Egg-Free)

February 10, 2023

When I hear, “Valentine’s Day,” the queen of hearts rhyme I learned as a tot, always pops to mind: “The queen of hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer’s day, The knave of hearts, he stole those tarts, and with them run away…” (I think the illustration of the skinny-legged “knave” running off with the tarts in the nursery primer was what fascinated me most.) Anyway, thinking about the verse recently, I poked around and discovered it was written by an anonymous poet in the 1700s, who added three more scandalous stanzas that definitely wouldn’t fly in the nursery. I’m guessing you’ve never heard them either, so here you go:

The queen of hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer’s day,
⁠The knave of hearts, he stole those tarts, and with them run away:
⁠The king of hearts call’d for those tarts and beat the knave full sore;
⁠The knave of hearts brought back those tarts, and said he’ll ne’er steal more. (continued through link)
Continue Reading…