Saturday, May 12, 2012

Rhubarb Butter

*Give-Away closed, thank you for participating! The winner is Donna of Conghaile Cottage.
A mature rhubarb plant can be... prolific. After pies, cakes, crisps and jam, what's left? Rhubarb Butter! Is everyone familiar with fruit butters or is that a Pennsylvania Dutch treat? They're called "butter" because they're smooth and spreadable. While fruit butters won't be the most colorful "spread" on the breakfast buffet, they are tasty! This one's sweet and tangy and my favorite way to enjoy rhubarb.
Who Hoo-A Give-Away!
If you'd like to try some Rhubarb Butter simply leave me a comment saying so and I'll pick a winner on 5/18/12. Make sure I can contact you via e-mail and I'll send this jar to you:@)

Rhubarb Butter
5 C chopped rhubarb, cut stalks no thicker than 1/4"
1 C water
Up to 2 C sugar-I used 1/2 C white and 3/4 C dark brown, tasted it and added 2 Tblsp more white
1/2 tsp cinnamon
  1. Add rhubarb and 1 C water to large heavy bottom pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes breaking down the rhubarb with back of spoon/spatula as you stir.
  2. Add sugars and cinnamon and bring back to a simmer, reduce heat to a low bubble. You can use all white or any combo of sugar you'd like.
  3. I chose to stir constantly (you just want to make sure it doesn't scorch on the bottom), it took about one hour total. You'll know you're getting close when you run the spatula across the bottom of the pan and the mixture separates and you can see the bottom of the pan, see below. 
  4. Ladle into sterilized jars and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. 
  5. Place on kitchen towel to cool, count the pops and love life!
Notes:
  • As a point of reference, 6 big hearty 14"-16"stalks gave me 5 cups of cut rhubarb. If you end up with more, just add it to the pot.
  • The sugar is a matter of personal preference, taste it and add a little more at a time if you think it's not sweet enough.
  • This gave me 3 half pint jars, if you get more just put it in a ramekin covered with plastic wrap in the fridge and use it first.
  • Fruit butters are traditionally brown folks, but how many times have we heard chefs say "brown=flavor":@)
  • What to do with it? It's amazing with cream cheese or peanut butter on toast or a bagel. How about topping cheddar on a cracker. And stay tuned, there may be a coffee cake recipe using butters coming soon...
  • Fresh rhubarb freezes beautifully, especially if you use a Food Saver. So if you have some left over in the garden chop it, measure for your favorite recipes and freeze it to enjoy in cakes, pies, etc. later in the year. 
  • Here's the Wikipedia definition of Fruit Butter and a pic of butter that's ready to come off the heat:
fruit butter is a sweet spread made of fruit cooked to a paste, then lightly sweetened. 
It falls into the same category as jelly and jam. 
Have a happy day:@)

43 comments:

  1. Hi Lynn, I think I tasted rhubarb just once in my life, in a pie with strawberries! This almost looks like apple butter, which I love. Happy Mother's day. xo

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  2. Lynn, I haven't had rhubarb since I was a child...and here I am almost 60....this looks very yummy.....Happy Mother's Day to you!!!

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  3. Yum! I grew up with rhubarb, but haven't made any pies or anything in a long time. Thanks for the chance and recipe. Happy Mother's Day, hope your able to be with your boys.

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  4. It looks so yummy...I haven't really eaten Rhubarb before....would like to try it...I have always had a fear cause of the leaves being poison...Happy Mother's Day...with love Janice...@spoonwither.blogspot.com

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  5. O my didn't read it all I would love to have a jar of Rhubarb Butter...janice15@email.com Hope I win...

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  6. Count me in on trying that rhubarb butter. I have made apple, peach, and pear butters, but never any rhubarb. I have a small plant out by my herb garden. Looks like I will try it in the future. Thanks for sharing. Happy Mother's Day!
    Susanne :) sstyree@yahoo.com

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  7. Oh My Goodness...YES, Please throw my name in the hat! I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE Rhubarb and I'd LOVE to have your butter!!!
    Thank you SO MUCH for the chance to win "AND" the recipe...
    Have a wonderful Mothers Day,
    Big Hugs,
    Donna

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  8. I would love to try rhubarb butter. I have 3 plants but have never tried the butter. Can't wait.

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  9. i bet that's great! i'd love to win some!

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  10. Lynn, To quote Anne Burrell: "brown food tastes good!"...love that smiling pig's face! Throw my name into the hat please! Wishing you a Tasty & Happy Mother's Day :)

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  11. I would love this. Rhubarb is a great favorite of mine. Still waiting to see it at the grocery.

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  12. I have had apple butter and honey butter but never rhubarb. Better keep me out of the running and let someone who loves it win because I don't know if I will like it or not. I have never had rhubarb. I know ~ what have I been thinking??? Have a very happy Mother's Day.

    Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  13. I love apple butter and imagine this is just as delicious. Happy Mother's Day!

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  14. What a fun give-away, Lynn! Something homemade is always appreciated. Happy Mother's Day.

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  15. This sounds really good on a slice of toast or on a scone.
    Have a happy Mother's Day!
    Pat

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  16. Oh yes we love butters here, apple butter and pumpkin butter are two that come to mind. I have never had rhubarb butter and so would love to taste it.

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  17. Just an old fashioned girl you are! I love old timer recipes like this one, tried and true and always well received! I think this would be the star of any buffet! I'm imagining it on warm biscuits with melting butter - mmmm mmmm mmmm!

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  18. Good Evening Sweetie...
    Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering and I am so tickled to see a little butter spread. Yummmmy. I haven't had this in years, 36 to be exact, when my sweet Grandma was alive.

    Thank you for the wonderful opportunity, and the recipe. I will have to see about giving it a try myself. I am getting braver in my older years.

    Have a glorious weekend. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

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  19. My friend Lorna makes apple butter! Yum! My uncle Louie loved rhubarb and so I use to grow it in my yard in my old house on Durango Street! I love the sweet giveaway!

    I will be sitting in the rain tomorrow to watch my oldest son Jeremy graduate from college! We have rain int he forecast! Brr.....it is cold here!

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  20. I love, love anything with rhubarb, I have memories from my dear Mil, she was such a great cook. I'm loving the marmolade recipe, thanks for sharing. I make apple pie with rhubarb and rhubarb pie alone too. Wish I had made it, now I want something with it, lol..I have a recipe you might like..Escabeche of Fish, my mom's fav, so last Wed. when she comes to spend the day with her I made it for her. Have a blessed Mother's Day sweet friend.
    FABBY

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  21. I would love to try this! Never too many ideas to use up the rhubarb.

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  22. I'd love some! I've made lots of 'butters,' never rhubarb though!

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  23. first, i just Love your blog!!


    this sounds and looks delicious! (i love rhubarb anything!)
    i'm drooling over this, and i'll definitely going to have to try it out.

    hope your weekend is going well.

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  24. As much as I cook, I have never cooked with rhubarb. My mother-in-law did and my husband loves it, but I just never really knew what to do with it...so I didn't do it at all. I'd love to try your butter and I know my husband would!

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  25. I Lynnie! Oh, this sounds good and yes, I would love a chance to try it!
    Happy Mother's Day, sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  26. Me! Me!
    I haven't had rhubarb since I was a little girl, and my aunt had it growing at her house. I would love to try rhubarb butter.

    And Happy Mother's Day!

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  27. Oh how I love rhubarb!! I have never tried rhubarb butter before though It looks so delicious!!

    tiffaneeg@yahoo.com

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  28. Love rhubarb and fruit butters! I have made apple butter and peach butter. This looks like a wonderful idea!

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  29. Hi Lynn, thank you for your Mother's Day wishes. I hope you had a special Mother's Day. I sure did.

    I would love some rhubarb butter. It looks delicious. Thank you so much for the chance to win some.

    Hugs, Jeanne

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  30. Oh, count me in for this yummy rhubarb butter giveaway! I'd be Happier Than a Pig in Mud to win ;)

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  31. That looks delicious, Lynn! I've never made a "butter" but when I was in 4-H I made freezer jams and jellies (rasp, strawberry) and even won some ribbons. Please enter me in your giveaway.
    Hugs and blessings, Beth

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  32. We LOVE Rhubarb and I would LOVe to win this! Thank yoU!

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  33. Oh I love Rhurbarb..I have not had it since I lived in NJ...I cant say I have ever seen it in Florida...Yum...I would love to win.

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  34. I've only had rhubarb combined with strawberries in cobblers. This butter sounds amazing- I'm a big fan of apple butter, so I'm sure this would be just as good! Probably even better..... :-) How fun to do a food give-away, Lynn.
    ~ Sue

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  35. Never heard of rhubarb butter but it sounds wonderful!! I love rhubarb.

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  36. Oh wow - just realized it's a giveaway too! Thanks for the opportunity :o)

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  37. Apple butter I've heard of but rhubarb butter? Thanks so much for being a part of my 100th Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  38. We used to grow rhubarb in our backyard when I was a kid and all the older neighbors used to come by to get some to make pie with. Never had rhubarb butter though.

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  39. My dad would love this! I've never met anyone who loved rhubarb as much as he does! :)

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  40. I remember picking rhubarb as a little girl at my grandma's. We would carry a little bowl of sugar and a small paring knife, out to the garden with us. She would cut us each a stick and we would sit right there in the grass, dipping the ruhbarb in the sugar and eating it just like that! So sweet and sour, it was! What wonderful memories your jar of rhubarb butter brought back for me. Thanks! :)

    Desiree Siegel
    tdsiegel

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  41. Oh, this sound fantastic. Enter me in the giveaway.

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  42. Looks amazing! I love rhubarb and would love to be entered in the giveaway if it's still open!

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  43. Rhubarb butter, huh? I bet it is yummy! And I think the way you did the fabric on the jar and the label is adorable. I just did a post on creative labelling this morning (for some strawberry jam that I'm giving away). If you have time, stop by and check it out!

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