Roasted Rhubarb Limeade

An update to a 10-year old post – still valid, I hope you enjoy it too:)

The prospect of S’mores fired her up intensely. From deep in her belly, she longed to stoke a fire, so its rising flames and crackling sounds could warm her and melt her ‘mallows till they softened and oozed their sugary goodness onto some good grahams. And the chocolate would quickly follow, it too melting in a marble sea of toasted flavours, perfect for a midsummer’s night on the range. Any range. With the stars ‘bove n up and the silver crescent of the moon shining on.

Oh, the beginning and end were here. For her, this was the adventure – this sit down, tales by moonlight and laughter with flames. This, the steaming cup of hot chocolate. Not the trek or setting up of the tent, not the food in tin cans and the bushes for bathrooms, no, her heart lusted not after one of those things but she sat there anyway, knowing the first bite of a S’more would be heaven or hell.

Which would it be? Only her lips could judge.

And if it was heaven, then the drive, the cold and the rain even would have been worth it. All of it, superb payment for one bit of this.

And perchance, it all went wrong and the S’more experience was hell in itself, then what?

She says ‘It would still be heaven, of a lesser plane for then I know now that camping again, I need not do!’

*****

Oh yes, a throwback to the weekend I went camping. Outdoors. Braving the elements, with daughter #1 as part of the Girls Scouts. Our group was dominated by people from the States and the business case for me to consider it a worthy trip was S’Mores. Descriptions of S’mores later, I was convinced that I had found the value. I mean, I’d read enough about 

I was a bit nervous, even though I had all my kit. My last memories of camping, a couple of decades ago are not pleasant.

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The leaves of rhubarb are toxic and poisonous – do not consume

It was my first trip to Spain as a Geology student and we headed north to the Cordillera Cantábrica. It was an amazing trip and I learnt so much.

  1. Black people do get sunburned – I did
  2. No sunshine in the Northern hemisphere could ever make me feel secure – it was boiling hot in the day in Spain, but at night, the temperatures were sub-zero
  3. Camping was not my thing

And then years later, I found myself being lured into a camping trip, lured by the prospect of toasted marshmallows.

What would people do for food hey?

*****

So, I planned that if things went south, I’d remind myself of the good times. With rhubarb. And lime. Roasted rhubarb of course, for its super sweet and almost girly colour.

Ingredients

600g rhubarb, rinsed and cut into 2cm pieces
3/4 cup caster sugar
1/2 of a split vanilla pod
3 juniper berries, lightly crushed
Juice of 1 – 2 limes, or more to taste

How to
Mix the rhubarb pieces with 1/2 cup of sugar, tossing well so the pieces are coated.

Bake in an oven at 200 degrees centigrade for 15-20 minutes till the rhubarb is soft (test using the tip of a sharp knife)

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While the rhubarb is roasting, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 cup of water, vanilla and juniper berries. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, stirring well till the sugar is dissolved, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add the lime juice, stir again.

When the rhubarb is done roasting – split in two – save half for adding to the drink and other things.

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With the other half still in the roasting tin, pour the lime sugar syrup and stir well. Scrape the vanilla seeds and save the pod for something else. Pour into a blender/ use a hand blender and process till smooth. Pass the mixture through a sieve, pressing on the mixture with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible.

Discard the thick mush leftover and let the mixture cool down. Refrigerate till ready to serve.

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To serve, share the rhubarb syrup between two glasses, add some roasted rhubarb and top up with your drink of choice – lemonade, ginger ale or sparkling water, ice cubes and lime slices.

Tell me, would you go camping for S’mores? And are you a Rhubarb and lime fan?

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28 Comments

  1. Wow..this drink looks so dainty and beautiful. Is the sourness from the rhubarb AND lime too much to handle?

    I hope the hype of s’mores didn’t let you down. I love them so much! This summer I’m planning on making homemade marshmallows and graham crackers.

  2. Wow, Oz! This is great. I’ve been mooching round your blog. Your writing is as delicious as your food. I love the recipes. I love your photography. You make my mouth water. I just wish I had more time to explore and cook. I too can’t wait to see the Pure market here. Stay in touch. Jo

  3. I thought I’d done rhubarb every which way but a drink…Not yet. Great idea and beautiful pictures 🙂

  4. Camping is sooooo not my thing either! And I burn to a crisp in the sun. Tents either are too cold or you get woken up by the sun pelting through the canvas.

    I have been away from your blog for nearly 2 weeks – I am just about to work my way through about 8 of your posts! Can’t wait!

  5. Looks very refreshing! Wish we had fresh rhubarb here cheaper… almost £1 a stick (!)
    I was going to make rhubarb pie today but finally I’m making mixed fruit pie with my daughter… it’s in the oven right now, can’t wait 🙂

  6. I have to say, promises of smores are the only way anyone could get me to go camping. I can’t spend more than one night in the wilderness. I need my bed!

    This limeade looks so incredibly refreshing! I love it.

  7. The pics are great, I will definitly try this. As for S’mores, they are only good if you are camping, it’s the whole atmosphere thing. I’m a camper-head myself, but these days an air mattress is a must! For me that’s the make or break it, I’m a bit of a Princess and the Pea type. You’ll have a blast I’m sure of it!

  8. camping is something I did as a kid but have no desire to rough it – although good food might tempt me – don’t know enough about smores to know if I would like them – but I know I would love that limeade – sounds divine

  9. I still have never had rhubard before. I have heard so many great things about it though. Thanks for this post. I’d like to try it sometime.

  10. Look at the colour… so beautiful! Rhubarb has been a well-known veg in Japan, but still minor to use for homely cooking. In the meantime, I was motivated to try by your post this summer 🙂

  11. Oh how I miss rhubarb. I wish we could grow it down here in Florida! It looks gorgeous!

    Ahh..S’mores it is all part of the Girl Scout camping experience! You’ll love it.

  12. What a refreshing drink!
    The S’more will be well worth it when you share it with your daughter. Have a good time
    Mimi

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