in defense of rhubarb: a baker's haterfesto

by Stacy

Ok, I need to set the record straight. I am being viciously attacked for my rhubarb-to-sugar ratio in my recipe for rhubarb crisp. Generic Nameless “Friends” have been comparing my recipe to other rhubarb recipes (some not even crisps! some containing Jello!) and blaming me for their own baking failures.

My recipe is based on the only recipe for rhubarb crisp I could find in my apartment, from the 1969 edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook. Please see recipe below:

rhubarb crisp recipe
rhubarb crisp recipe

The recipe calls for 4 cups rhubarb, and up to 2 cups of sugar, all of which is concentrated in the topping. In response, I have edited my recipe to call for 1.5 cups of sugar in the topping with an additional amount to be added to the rhubarb filling of up to 1/3 cup.

rhubarb crisp with fresh whipped cream

It was still delicious, though. And next time I have a Generic Nameless Friend over for dinner, I will be sure to make Key lime pie or something. Sheesh.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Lee June 26, 2009 at 6:12 am

I often don’t add any sugar at all to the rhubarb itself, only a little flour and some cinnamon. The topping has sugar. That’s the point of crisp, the ocntrast between the crunchy sweet topping and the mushy tart filling.

But I put the sugar bowl on the table when I serve it.

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stacy June 26, 2009 at 10:20 am

Thank you, Team Real Rhubarb Crisp.

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Birch June 26, 2009 at 10:15 am

I want to kill this… person. Nobody talks that way about my baby sister. Yeesh, differing tastes does not make a person wrong. Especially by name!

And what Lee said.

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stacy June 26, 2009 at 10:21 am

Nooooo! She is my friend! She is just baffled by rhubarb.

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evie June 26, 2009 at 5:23 pm

omg I am so sick of rhubarb and I haven’t even made anything rhubarb. We need a new obsession. I vote meat pies.

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stacy June 26, 2009 at 11:31 pm

Eve, at this rate we might need that new obsession to be some form of exercise to work off all the food we’ve been making.

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