Rhubarb Crisp

 

Last weekend, after harvesting our first batch of rhubarb for the year, I promptly brought it inside, chopped it up and turned it into a delicious snack/dessert inspired by this recipe!  I'm not sure if it was just the excitement of our first harvest, but this simple crisp was absolutely delicious!  

We didn't have any fresh berries on hand (our strawberries won't be ready for a while) so I pulled out a jar of strawberry-rhubarb jam from last years stores and topped off the rhubarb with it.  Perfect!

The only thing I think could have made it better would have been a scoop of vanilla ice cream...but I guess we'll have all summer to work on that addition.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
• 3 cups coarsely chopped Rhubarb
• 1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar (packed)
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/2 cup strawberry-rhubarb jam (or another jam of your choice if fresh fruit is not available)

Process:

• Place the chopped rhubarb, cornstarch and sugar into a medium bowl, toss to coat and transfer into an 8 inch pan (a similar size will do, too).
• In a second bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon.
• Melt the butter and coconut oil, pour over the flour mixture and mix well.
• Sprinkle the flour and butter mixture over the fruit. 
• Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes (it will be bubbly and the fruit will be tender).
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if you have some, but remember, it's so good, the ice cream isn't even necessary!

Enjoy!!!

xoxo,

M

Harvest Monday

Happy Monday, everyone!

After what has felt like the longest, driest of spells possible, we are back in the business of harvesting from our small plot!  I am so happy to report that last weekend brought us a nice little bundle of delicious, tart, completely perfect rhubarb that went straight into an equally delicious crisp!

While we have been anxiously waiting for anything to be ready for harvest we have kept ourselves busy with getting the garden in!  While it is all  not completely in the ground, I'd say we're about 90% there with the rest planned to go in over the next week.  The spring has been incredibly long and cool but it has quickly shifted into hot, windy days that are wreaking havoc on everything we transplanted.  

Strange, strange weather.  I have a feeling we'll either have the strongest veggies possible or we'll lose a few.  Time will tell.

I also took some time to create an aerial, digital view of our tiny property, including all of our beds, the chickens, the compost and the bee area.  This view now lives on my 1/8 Acre page as a continual reminder of all the work we've done to our plot in the six years we've owned this house...inspiration and exhaustion.  A little of both can't be a bad thing, right? 

Harvest totals for the past three weeks:

• Rhubarb = 12 oz
• Eggs = 231

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Happy harvesting!

Linking up to Harvest Monday @ Daphne's Dandelions

xoxo

M

Ever Growing Sponsor Giveaway - Itty Bitty Book Company

I am very excited to bring you my very first Ever Growing Sponsor Giveaway courtesy of the Itty Bitty Book Company!  Some of you may remember Astra from my Expanding Ripples post a few months ago.  Well, things have been hopping in the Itty Bitty Book Company since then! Let's catch up!

Bee Girl: Tell us about your business and what inspired you to begin the Itty Bitty Book Company.

Astra: The Itty Bitty Book Company is all about spreading positivity and happiness. Positive quotes have a way of connecting with people, empowering them and can instantly lift your mood. The little quote books can be kept in your handbag, on your desk at work or on your bedside table - just about anywhere you think you'd like some extra positivity in your life. I just want to make as many people as I can smile :)  I've always loved quotes and wanted to give something handmade, itty bitty size (because my family live all over the world and itty bitty is always cute!) also importantly, something that expressed a part of me. That's how the positivity book was born :)

Bee Girl: What are some of the changes that have happened with your business over the past few months?

Astra: The past few months have seen massive changes in the business, from making the first book to having them selling in gift shops and online. Expanding the range, now 3 books Positivity, Motivation and Strength. My husband and I both now work on the Itty Bitty Book Company, making it a real family business which I love! We have also started working with eco printers which have the same respect for the environment as us, this was an important step for us and we are happy knowing that our paper comes from well managed tree farms instead of rainforests!  

Bee Girl: Tell us about your vision for your business.

Astra: The future is wide open! We are open to anything :) At the moment we are working on are a slick new website and just trying to get the word out about the two new books - Motivation and Strength. 100% of the profits from the strength book are going to the friends of PICU charity who provide vital care and medical equipment to sick babies and children. We hope to raise LOTS for this great cause over the life of the company.

Bee Girl: Which is your favorite (or current favorite) quote?

Astra: Life is simple. 1) Figure out what you want. 2) Figure out how to get it. 3) Do that!

Bee Girl: Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs?

Astra: My tip comes in the form of another quote! "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loosing enthusiasm" - Winston Churchill :) Don't be scared to change direction or go in the opposite direction! Keep being creative and never give up on your dreams! *shameless plug here but my Motivation book is filled with these types of inspiring quotes! lol*

Astra is generously offering up a total of three beautiful books (one of each; Positivity, Strength, and Motivation) to three lucky readers! 

Here's how to be entered:

• Visit Astra's Itty Bitty Book Company Etsy Shop and have a little look around.  Then come back here and leave a comment telling me which book you'd most love to win.
• Subscribe to Astra's blog A Journey to a Dream via Google Friend Connect or via email 
• Follow A Journey to a Dream on Instagram
• Like the Itty Bitty Book Company's facebook page 

For each entry, please leave me a separate comment on this post.  If you already follow Astra in any of the above ways, just let me know!

The giveaway will run through Friday, May 24th and winners will be notified on Saturday, May 25th via email (so, please make sure I have a way of contacting you).

Good luck!

xoxo,

M