Strawberry-Rhubarb Buttermilk Coffee Cake

One of the first things I ever planted while growing up was rhubarb. It was a sure thing every spring with little trouble. Always set in a corner to give it plenty of growing space, it was guaranteed to give any child gardener confidence with its gigantic, exotic leaves and stalks as red as any Radio Flyer wagon.

Alas, here in the South, because of the heat, it is a rare find in any garden. Or grocery store. When I worked in a produce department, it shipped from Washington State and was actually available year-round. "Yankees" were always thrilled to find it for their annual spring strawberry-rhubarb pie.

Pairing it's tart taste with sweet strawberries is a match made in heaven. I tend to use more berries than rhubarb. You do you.

I first made this coffee cake while I was staying with my sister and her family. After her second piece, she put on her slippers buttoned up her robe and trotted across the street to share it with her neighbor. 

It is like something one would find in a good bakery. Use a quality butter.

I prepare the filling and the topping the day before. And I do use frozen berries but throw in some fresh ones, mashed..

It has been a cool spring here in the South (I'm not complaining) and rhubarb picked from the mountains is a plenty at farmer markets. I choose the smaller stalks.

This dough is thick, be forewarned. Drop by small tablespoons before attempting to spread it smooth. Use an off-set spatula or, if you don't have one, use a butter knife.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

• For the Filling:
• ⅔ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• 2 cups chopped rhubarb
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• For the Cake:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the Topping:
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

In a medium/large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix the sugar and cornstarch. Add rhubarb, strawberries. Bring to a slow simmer over medium heat and cook for about two minutes until thick. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice. Allow to cool. If making ahead, cover well and refrigerate. This must be brought to room temperature the next day to be able to spread evenly and easily on the batter, so keep that in mind.

For the cake: combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in the butter until coarse crumbs form.

In a small/medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until moistened. Avoid overmixing.

Spoon 1/2-2/3 batter into greased dish. Spread filling on top. Cover with remaining batter. Batter is thick, so this requires some patience.

For the topping: Simply combine sugar and flour. Cut in butter until mixture resembles large crumbs. You want crumbs, not a dough batter. 

Sprinkle crumbs on top of cake. Bake 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before cutting. 

Some suggest making a bit more filling than necessary to serve alongside slices. I don't think it is necessary.

Enjoy!

Notes: Rhubarb freezes well. I cut into chunks and store in 1-cup and 1/2-cup increments. 

Easy Weeknight Italian Sausages

I no longer buy what I call "grocery-store ground beef". Lately, I have not been happy with it. Instead, I buy the pre-formed hamburger patties and use that. It is quality beef, not something leftover that the store grinds up to get rid of. It has been worth the extra money. Until now. 

On this day, I had planned on getting one pound of ground beef. But one pound of those pre-formed patties hovered at ten bucks! No thanks!

It upset my dinner plans and shopping. What to do? Voila! Italian sausages were on sale for 4.99 a pack. And it was a brand I like. I scooped them up along with a large green pepper, red onion, and a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, a loaf of Italian bread.

Dinner!

This can be done stovetop. You could put it in the oven, but if you're home it is satisfying to have something simmering on the range. Going back and forth to see how it's doing. A taste here and there ... a bit of seasoning ...

This is not a thick, spaghetti-like sauce. It is more brothy and, I think, cleaner.

Be sure to slice the garlic. It is a bit more mellow as it simmers in the pan. If it's in your budget, colored peppers add a nice touch ... otherwise, green is just fine.

You could certainly also add black olives and/or mushrooms.

I now douse all fresh meat purchased from the grocery store with boiling water. Many processing and shipping measures have been ... "relaxed." IMHO.

• 1 lb. Italian sausages (I used mild) just under one-pound
• 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced into ribbons, some cut in half
• 1/2 large red onion, sliced
• 1 garlic clove per sausage, peeled and sliced
• 1 14.5-ounce can "fire roasted" tomatoes (I used Hunts)
• 1 tablespoon Italian spices or "to taste)
• Pinch or two of Aleppo pepper flakes (fewer if using red pepper flakes)
• Water
• Butter

Heat a kettle of water to boiling. Pour over sausages in a colander. Douse a few times. Remove and pat dry.

Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan. Add a bit of oil and add sausages. Be prepared for splatters. Over a medium, medium-low heat, fry sausages just until they begin to turn brown on at least two sides.

About halfway, add your onions, bell peppers, sliced garlic. When they begin to go limp, add your can of fire-diced tomatoes with juice. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning of choice. Add about 1/2 can of water. Give a good stir. Reduce to simmer and slowly cook for about 2 hours. 

Just before serving, melt in a couple tablespoons butter. 

Serve as is or over rice/pasta. Great with a side of garlic bread, fresh salad and/or melon.

This is easily doubled or tripled (be careful of the garlic and Italian seasonings, though) and great for a picnic instead of the usual hot dogs.

Tuscan White Bean Soup with Sausage and Greens

                                                                                                                                                         

 I arrived in North Carolina 14 years ago right after Easter. The temperature was in the nineties. The humidity was high. And there was so much pollen in the air you could actually see it floating! 

This morning, with Easter right around the corner, I switched on the furnace to take the chill out of the morning air. Brr. In other words, it is still soup season!

This is a pretty straightforward soup and you have have many options. You don't have to add sausage. You can just as easily sub 6 slices of bacon or 6 ounces Pancetta. I prefer the sausage and, if I have it, I snip a slice or two of bacon with it for the added flavor. Why not? If you have the time, roll your sausage into small meatballs.

Your biggest option is the type of greens you use. That will depend what you have on hand, what you can afford, and, today, what you can actually find in the supermarket. I prefer escarole, but it's not easy to locate. If you use Kale, I don't suggest the frizzy kind. I prefer Italian or smooth leaves. It's just more tender. Of course, spinach is just fine as well as collards. I supposed one could use broccoli raab, but it is expensive and often difficult to find.

Canned beans work just fine for this. Just be sure to give a good rinse. If you have fresh cherry tomatoes on hand, do use instead of canned. I like canned roasted, diced tomatoes. It there is a lot of juice, I discard some of it. It's just a personal preference on my part.

For the liquid, I'm a bit persnickety. I suggest half chicken stock and half beef stock. After that, if you it more "soupy" than "stewy," add a bit more water. Chicken stock is too light for a soup like this. I find the addition of beef stock gives it a hearty "lift" it deserves to support all the veggie flavors along with the sausage. Mix in a separate bowl and taste until you get a broth you like. 

If you don't have a Parm. rind, that's okay. But do try to add a rosemary sprig at the end like suggested, but first lightly crush with a rolling pin to gets the oils going. Remember, rosemary is strong in flavor. (I know this sounds really cheap ... but I often strip the needles off of older rosemary and discard. I save the stems in the freezer in a plastic wrap just for recipes such as this ... )

Don't be afraid of the fennel bulb. It mellows as it cooks. Fennel is also good in any chicken soup or with most recipes that use oysters. Chop and freeze what you don't use. If you choose not to use the fennel bulb, the dried herbs are not optional nor is the celery. You may, of course, use all of them. That's the beauty of soup.

If you want a bit of a kick or just some warm heat, add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes. I really prefer Aleppo pepper and now use it almost exclusive to red pepper flakes. 

Some people add potatoes to this soup. Some people omit carrots (Many people omit the carrots. I don't think it's traditional Italian to add them, but I like the color.) If you have it on hand, you can also add a few tablespoons washed orzo, which is a nice touch.

• 1 T. Olive Oil
• 3/4-1 pound sweet or mild Italian Sausage casings removed or
• 6 slices bacon or part bacon/part sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped OR 2 leeks, shallots or all three ... about a good cup or so, total
• 2 medium celery ribs cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1-2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks (optional)
• 1/2 medium fennel bulb, chopped (optional) and/or celery
• 6 medium garlic cloves, sliced thin, minced, pressed or a combination of all three
• 5-6 cups stock, a mixture of chicken and beef and water--such as two cups chicken, two cups beef, one cup water.
• 2, 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (or beans of your choice)
• 2 medium bay leaves
• A few pinches of dried oregano leaf and thyme leaves (optional)
• A few pinches red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper (optional)
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained and lightly rinsed.
• 1 bunch (about 1 pound) of your favorite, fresh greens
• 1 Parmesan rind. (When done with it, simply wipe off and refrigerate to use again.)
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

In a heavy-bottomed pot, saute sausage and/or bacon along with onion, over medium heat. Break up sausage as it cooks. If necessary, add a drizzle of olive oil to pan. Cook about 8-10 minutes. When meat has rendered its fat, add celery and/or fennel, carrots, garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste, and cook until vegetables begin to soften.

Add your greens, can of tomatoes, bay leaves and, if using, dried oregano and thyme. Stir of low/medium heat for about 5-8 minutes.

Add your broth mixture. Stir ingredients together. If using, throw in Parmesan rind. Bring just to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer. Adjust lid on pot so some steam can escape. Cook for a slow 30 minutes or so. Taste and season with salt if necessary. About 15 minutes or so before serving, add your rosemary stalk. Be sure to remove bay leaves.

SERVING OPTIONS: If you want a thicker soup, mash some of the beans against the side of the pot. If you have it on hand, drizzle in heavy cream to make a "cream soup." To serve simply as a broth soup, to each bowl drizzle on your best olive oil and grate some Italian cheese on top. Or leave off the cheese and squeeze on a few drops of fresh lemon juice.

Garlic Jelly

When I had a small art studio in Michigan, I also had a small gift shop. I sold the inimitable products of Stonewall Kitchen. Their pepper jelly and garlic/onion jam were best sellers. So when I came across this recipe, I jumped on it.

Everyone should make garlic jelly. It's inexpensive. Tasty. Versatile. Ingredients are simple and easy to find. The first time I made it was from sheer curiosity. Now I just often miss it. It's great with pork and lamb. Spread a little on a chicken sandwich. Add a spoonful to pasta ... or mix in with your favorite sauce/gravy. 

You can't beat it with cream cheese on a cracker.

Once, I made it with rosemary--a real knock out. I prefer 1/2 pint jars because I love to give away as gifts, especially around the holidays.

Yield: About 5 cups

• 1/2 cup fresh garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 cups white wine vinegar
• 5.5 cups white sugar
• 3 cups filtered water
• 1, 2-ounce package dry pectin
• 1/4 teaspoon butter
• 2 drops food coloring, (red, green, yellow, orange) optional

1. Combine garlic and vinegar in a 2-qt. saucepan/kettle. Bring to a gentle simmer, not a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Remove pan from heat and carefully pour hot liquid into a one-quart canning jar. Cover and let sit for 24-36 hours.
3. Pour the cooled, flavored vinegar through a wire sieve/strainer, pressing the garlic with the back of a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
4. Discard residue left in sieve.
5. Measure the liquid. You want one cup. If you need don't have enough liquid, add enough vinegar to make one cup. Set aside.
6. Measure sugar into a bowl.
7. Combine the garlic/vinegar solution and the 3 cups water in 5-6 quart kettle. Add pectin. Stir well to combine.
8. Over med/high heat, bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Now add sugar and stir well.
9. Bring to a rolling boil. Add butter to reduce foam. Boil hard for 2 minutes.
10. Remove pan from heat. Carefully skim off foam. If using, add food colorings. 
11. Pour into prepared jelly jars/glasses
12. Seal according to directions on brand of pectin you used.