rhubarb pie

Sunday I checked the rhubarb patch behind the studio, and it was ready to pick.
If there is one thing I love, it is rhubarb pie!!
Not strawberry rhubarb, which is pretty much blasphemy in my house, but plain old rhubarb pie.
First, the pie dough.
Many years ago, a cousin of mine gave me this recipe, for Never Fail Pie Crust. I didn't think that it would work for me, but it did, and since then I have made more pies than I would like to count.

My 84 year old mom likes to help out in the kitchen, so she got to cut up the rhubarb. She loves dessert, so she is especially willing.
One thing I can't deny, I make an incredible mess when I bake. Just the way it is.
Here is one of two.


Sunday. Dinner with the family. Rhubarb pie.
It's a wonderful life, for sure.

Chicken Broccoli Crepes

Many years ago, when my oldest daughter was about 11 years old, and we lived in China, Maine, I used to make crepes a lot. I bought a very nice crepe pan, and fancied myself to be quite evolved in the cooking world. That's a joke.
Anyway, I found this recipe for Chicken Broccoli Crepes, and I made them. My oldest daughter fell in love with them, and I made them for her quite often. As years went by, the crepe pan was forgotten, and the recipe as well. We got talking about it not long ago, and she and her sister both remembered the recipe, and how much they liked it as kids. So since today was my oldest daughter's birthday, I searched google til I found a recipe that sounded like it, and went shopping.
It isn't a difficult recipe, so I don't understand why I dirtied every dish in the house, but it did take quite a while.
I faintly remembered there being a learning curve about the crepe, and the temperature of the pan, and success.
The first crepe was awful, and I began to worry that maybe it had been too long. But the second crepe turned out awesome, and I was inspired. The crepes were flying out of the pan in no time.
Then I cooked chicken, and cut it up, cooked broccoli and cut that up. I made a white sauce, and added cheddar cheese to it, and some seasonings, and saved some to put over the top of the crepes before I added the the chicken and broccoli to it. They only go in the oven for 15-20 minutes, and they were a big hit.

My husband made lasagna for the meat lovers/veggie haters in our family. And of course it was wonderful.
And we had a loaf of locally baked Italian bread, which was devoured.
And of course CAKE.

I had intentions of taking pictures at this birthday get together, but between the good food, screaming kids, laughing, talking and generally spending time with my family, I forgot all about the camera.
Next time.

I am off to dream land.........good night all.