Food & Fun: Rhubarb’s versatility makes it great for recipes

Rhubarb’s versatility makes it great for recipes

This easy to follow rhubarb streusel bread is very versatile as you can make muffins with a streusel topping, a coffee cake in a bundt pan or a regular loaf or 4 mini loaves. Double the recipe for streusel if you like a thicker layer. The recipe is delicious and the bread can be made ahead as the flavors are better the second day. The bread also freezes well.

RHUBARB STREUSEL BREAD

Bread ingredients:

1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter softened 1/3 cup orange juice 2 large eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 stalks (1-1/2 cups) fresh rhubarb cut into ¼ inch pieces

Streusel ingredients:

2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon flour 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees and flour 9 x 5 loaf pan; set aside. Combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add orange juice and eggs; beat at low speed just until mixed. (Mixture will be slightly curdled. ) Stir in flour, baking power, soda and salt; just until moistened. Gently stir in rhubarb. (Batter will be thick.) Reserve 1-1/2 cups batter. Spread remaining butter into prepared pan. Combine all streusel ingredients in bowl; stir until resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle half of streusel over batter in pan, gently press into batter. Carefully spread reserved batter into pan; top with remaining streusel. Press streusel into batter. Bake 60-65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan.

Note: If you make muffins bake 23-25 minutes. 4 mini loaves take 45-50 minutes. Recipe makes 12 Servings.

This recipe for rhubarb slush is simple to whip up, but you have to wait 24 hours for it to freeze. The mixture of strawberry and lemon is perfect for a flavorful, cool, refreshing, warm weather drink. It makes a big batch. If you want it kid friendly, use lemon-lime soda, and the adult version uses alcohol.

Beverly BARRETT

BAKING WITH BEV

RHUBARB SLUSH

Ingredients:

6 cups rhubarb, chopped

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Rhubarb is a seasonal vegetable that is available during the spring of the year. It is most often used for sauce and desserts.

6 cups water 2-1/4 cups sugar 1 small package strawberry Jell-O 1/3 cup lemon juice 12-ounces pink lemonade concentrate lemon-lime soda or alcohol

Instructions:

In a large pot on stove, mix together water and rhubarb. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes until softened. In a large ice cream pail, drain liquid from the pulp of the rhubarb using a strainer. Add the sugar, Jell-O, lemon juice and pink lemonade concentrate. Whisk together until combined. Cover and freeze overnight. Remove from freezer and stir to loosen. Place scoops in cup and pour desired amount of lemon lime soda or alcohol over top. Recipe makes 10 servings.

BLOOD PRESSURE

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Many people with kidney disease don’t know they have the disease until their kidneys begin to fail. Research suggests that fewer than 1 in 10 people who have kidney disease are aware they have the disease. This is because kidney disease often doesn’t have any symptoms early on.

The good news is that you can help protect your kidneys by managing high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle habits.

“Our research continues to uncover the complexities of the link between high blood pressure and kidney disease,” says Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. “And what we are finding supports the message that you can help protect your kidneys by managing high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle habits.”

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits that help you manage your blood pressure will also help to keep your kidneys healthy. You can prevent or slow kidney disease progression by taking the following steps to lower your blood pressure:  Take medicines as prescribed. Blood pressure medicines often play a key role in lowering blood pressure.  Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or have obesity, reducing your weight may lower high blood pressure.  Select healthier food and beverage options. Follow a healthy eating plan that focuses on heart-healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats that are low in sodium.  Stop smoking. Smoking damages blood vessels, increases your risk for high blood pressure, and worsens problems related to high blood pressure. For help quitting, call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to Smokefree.gov.  Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can have an adverse effect on your blood pressure and metabolism. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.  Manage stress and

make physical activity part

of your routine. Healthy stress-reducing activities and regular physical activity can lower blood pressure. Try to get at least 30 minutes or more of physical activity each day.

“You can manage your blood pressure and its complications through healthy lifestyle habits, which include exercise, following a healthy eating plan and taking blood pressure medication as prescribed by your doctor,” says Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “It’s important to know your numbers because controlling or lowering your blood pressure can prevent or delay serious complications like kidney disease and heart disease.”

For more information, visit the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website at niddk.nih.gov. Help is also available at:  Hutchinson Health Clinic: 320-234-3290, hutchinsonhealth.com  Glencoe Regional Health Clinic: 320-864-3121, grhsonline.org  Meeker Memorial and Clinics: 320-693-3233, meekermemorial.org

Source: North American Precis Network

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