BBQ Treats

On Friday, Amy and I had a BBQ for the Temple horticulture staff and a few other friends.  The event was a pot-luck and everyone brought fantastic dishes! 

Our great spread!

The BBQ was also a chance for us to try a few new things and use a lot of the produce that we have been harvesting lately.

I had more rhubarb to use, so I tried a different type of rhubarb bar.  I wanted to try one that was a little more solid, so the guests could pick them up rather than eating them with a fork.  Like the last rhubarb bars, I found this recipe on the Rhubarb Compendium web site.

Rhubarb Dream Bars

Crust:
2 cups flour, all-purpose
2/3 cups sugar, powdered
1 cup unsalted butter

Filling:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar, granulated
1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups rhubarb

Combine flour and sugar.  Cut in butter, until crumbs form.  Press in bottom of jelly roll pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 mins.  Blend eggs, sugar, flour, and salt.  Fold in rhubarb.  Spread on crust.  Bake 40-55 mins in 350 degree F oven.  Cut into squares.

I cut the recipe in half and baked in a 9" square pan.  I also just noticed that the crust ingredients call for powdered sugar; I used granulated because I didn't notice this.  The cooking time was at least and hour and 15 mins and they were still pretty moist inside when we cut the bars the next day for the BBQ.  They tasted great.  Tart rhubarb with a sweet base.  Rhubarb is my new favorite ingredient!

Pre-bake the crust for 15 minutes before adding the filling

Adding the filling

Finished Rhubarb Dream Bars, yum!

Amy also decided to use some of the very ripe bananas that we have in the freezer.  Okay, we didn't grow them, but the bread was really tasty so I thought it deserved a mention!  We used a recipe called "Boy's Favorite Banana Bread" from Kim Yeffer.  I can't remember where I got this recipe, but I'm sure Kim is a relative or friend of someone that I know.  Either way, thanks for the recipe, Kim, the bread is great!

Boy's Favorite Banana Bread
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 bananas, mashed
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
Chopped nuts (optional)

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Cream the butter and gradually add the sugar.  Mix well.  Add the eggs and bananas; blend thoroughly.  Combine the milk and lemon juice.  Alternately fold in the flour mixture and mild mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Blend well after each addition.  Pour batter into a buttered 9x5x3 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour, or until the bread springs back when lightly touched in the center.

Amy's fabulous banana bread