Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

Summer is flying by and there's so much fresh produce available right now.  What a fun time to cook, bake, grill, and preserve!  I'm lovin' it!  It's also the end of the week and time to come together to share ANY post, no matter when you published it, related to food and gardening.  We've developed quite a friendly and consistent circle of friends who love to share about what they have enjoyed making in their beloved kitchens!  If I haven't thanked you yet, please know that I truly am grateful for your blog friendship and participation in this weekly party!

Please use the URL address of your blog post and not your blog in general.
To be considered for one of the featured blog posts, you need to have either the button/badge to this get-together and/or a linky with 'la bella vita's Fresh Food Friday' shared in your post.

Thanks for your kindness!  You are so appreciated; may God bless!

And now here are the featured posts from last week!  Enjoy!

This beautiful Triple Berry Pound Cake is from Claudia of "What's Cooking Italian Style?"  What a treasure of a cake from Claudia's grandmother!

Jane from "Cottage at the Crossroads" brought her fresh Zucchini Fritters!  Can't wait until the zuk's are ripe so that I can fry up some of these guys!

Oh my what a treat that Misty from "Bake Me Away" shared with us!  A freshly baked Rhubarb Cake with Warm Butter Sauce!  Oh my gosh, I know what I can now bake with all of my rhubarb growing out of control!

And just take a look at this gorgeous Lemon Tart with Fresh Raspberries, Blueberries, and Blackberries from Gloria of "Canela's Kitchen"!

And lastly, Miz Helen of "Miz Helen's Country Cottage" shared her gorgeous Roasted Chicken with us . . . looks so juicy and delish!

For those of you who were featured last week and this week, please GRAB THE NEW "I'VE BEEN FEATURED" button and post it on your blog.


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Almost Wordless Wednesday on the Acreage!

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The first bountiful harvest of a variety of bell peppers!

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Ooey, Gooey Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp or Topping

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The rhubarb hasn't stopped producing large quantities of huge, tall stalks!  I think I'm going to have to resort to freezing and canning whatever is left rather than continually preparing another dessert (which my waistline cannot handle).  When I freeze rhubarb I simply fall these easy instructions {link}.  But if dessert with rhubarb is what you're craving, then here is a sweet and savory treat blended with fresh strawberries!  Some people call it a crisp, but to my husband and me, it is more of an ooey, gooey topping.  If you like it a bit more tart, than add another cup of diced rhubarb.

Oh yes, the ice cream IS melting!  After all, it's a mere 92 degrees today and we still haven't officially begun summer.  Stay cool, my friends!

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Believe it or not, that's a bedding (above) of composted horse manure that rhubarb thrives on!  If you let your horse manure set for one year it won't burn your plants, nor will it smell (too badly).

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I love taking my harvesting basket out to the garden in the cool morning when the mocking birds and cardinals are singing to pick whatever is currently ripe and ready to enjoy!

A variety of rhubarb's pretty pink, ruby red and lime green colors!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp/Topping

5 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
4 cups rhubarb, diced
1 cup sugar
5 Tbsp. flour

1 - 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup cold butter

Add diced rhubarb to the sliced strawberries.
Add sugar and flour and gently blend well.
Spread this mixture into a 9 X 13" baking pan.
In a medium-sized bowl, blend together the oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Add the butter in with a pastry cutter.
Layer this topping mixture evenly over the strawberries and rhubarb.
Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, until crisp, golden brown and bubbly.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!!!

Yum-alicious!!


For more extensive information on Rhubarb from plant varieties, to planting, to harvesting, to recipes . . . check out this great web-site:  http://www.rhubarb-central.com/index.html


Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Topping

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