Friday, May 29, 2009

Rhubarb in season

G'day, sweet bloggers and friends, have you had a good week? I've had a full one. I'm in the process of painting my hutch, buffet and dining furniture white, I paused for a while for some snaps snaps on my camera. I figured I wouldn't have the "unfinished paint finish" background for long, so I had to take photos, didn't I? It really did help having such co-operative subjects as these autumn lovelies though. I had so much fun putting these together, and so much more fun taking pictures! They are very photogenic, I must add. Roses used here: Perfumed Perfection (Mauve, Floribunda), Anne Boelyn (Pink apricot blend, David Austin) and Sheena Gold with lilac flowers(Hedge plant, can't remember the cultivar's name).Notice the two-tone pink on these roses? They tend to do that naturally in autumn. I love them like that since I love striped roses and I haven't added any in my garden yet. Pink roses: Sir Edward Elgar (David Austin English Rose) and Pink Simplicity(Floribunda)Tamora (David Austin) apricot I'm a sucker for rhubarb desserts. So I also took time out to bake a Rhubarb Crumble-topped Teacake. It's so good I had to share with you. The topping really makes it special and I love the nuts in it. The aroma while baking was unbelievable! You can have it with whipped cream, I didn't want it with cream this time so I had it plain with..........roses! Very low calories, lol! And of course a cup of tea has to be called for, what is a teacake without tea? These are Pink Simplicity arranged a bit wildly, the two-tone is even more obvious here. Recipe for Rhubarb Crumble-topped Teacake:
125g butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp bicarb soda 1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup (200-250ml) sour cream
2 cups rhubarb, finely sliced

Topping:
5 Tbsp plain flour
25-30g butter (diced and softened)
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup slivered or flaked almonds ( I used both)

(1) Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a 20cm springform tin. Line base with baking paper. (2) Beat butter and brown sugar together until pale and creamy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Sift flour, bicarb soda and cinnamon together. Add to butter mixture with sour cream and fold through until well combined. Add 2/3 of rhubarb to batter and stir well. Transfer to cake tin and smooth top. (3) To prepare Topping: Rub butter into flour until mixture resembles bread crumbs. Add brown sugar, cinnamon and almonds into the mixture. (4) Add reserved rhubarb on surface of batter and then layer Topping mixture on top of rhubarb. (5) Bake for 1 hour or cooked when tested. Enjoy your weekend, my sweet friends, hope you get to try the teacake.

27 comments:

Feedsack Fantasy said...

What gorgeous bouquets ... are they ALL your own grown roses? Whoa! Lucky you ...

And, rhubarb cake ... love rhubarb so I will have to try this recipe of yours.

Very lovely post, good eye for florals ...

TY for sharing.
TTFN ~ Marydon

Allidink said...

Oh my gosh that cake looks absolutely amazing. When I saw it I actually said oh my gosh LOL. I am going to definitely try it. Beautiful roses!

All the best,
Allison

debi said...

OMGosh!! Your roses are absolutely gorgeous!!! And your rhubarb teacake looks wonderful. What a nice way to take a break while painting!

Ivory Spring said...

I love the rugged contrast of the sanded furniture and the roses!

Your teacake looks yummy - I will be right over for some! :)

Have a wonderful weekend.

FEDERICA said...

Fabulous! Today I'm going to make the post about your beautiful pictures!

Happy friday!

Gail McCormack said...

Love your beautiful flowers as I did your yummy Tea Cake!!

Happy Painting

Alison Gibbs said...

Can't wait to see ypour finished painted furniture.
As always gorgeous roses.
Alison

FEDERICA said...

Go check my blog, I have awarded you the "Lovely Blog Award"!

http://sweet-as-a-candy.blogspot.com/

FEDERICA said...

Here I am again! Please check out this post...hope you will like it!

http://sweet-as-a-candy.blogspot.com/2009/05/rosys-roses.html

Rumour has it said...

Hello! I found your site through ´Sweet as a Candy´ and I love this amazing fireworks of flowers and colours! Really beautiful, your pictures make my day!
Many greetings from Belgium,

Marjolijn

vicki archer said...

Your roses are incredible and I love all your bouquets - just so beautiful, thank you. xv

Kellie Collis said...

Absolutely amazing. I am obsessed with flowers and your blog is just divine!!!!!

One Shabby Old House said...

I saw your blog on Federica's blog.
She sends me to the most beautiful places.
Nice to meet you and I really enjoyed your roses. I love how you tell us what each one is.
And that recipe looks wonderful.
I will have to try it. Grew up eating ruhbarb. Haven't had some in a very long time.
Becky

nicole mountz said...

you have a STUNNING blog dear! i am in love with it already. those english roses look very similiar to peonies so i'd agree with you, they are my favorite too!

Debra Howard said...

As usual you gave us a tasty treat and a visual treat. You know I just love your pictures.
Debbie

Carolyn said...

I love your bouquet and that recipe looks good too. I have rhubarb in the garden so I plan to try this teacake soon.
Carolyn

Lilla Blanka said...

Hi!

All these roses makes me soo happy!
I can almost feel the scent of them..I just want to grab them all and hold them in my arms and just smell them :)

Your blog is absolutely gorgeous!!!

Have a wonderful day ♥
Mia

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous and yummy all in one post... overload.. but good.

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Those roses are just absolutely beautiful!!

Lady Katherine said...

Your cake looks delicious! Your lovely roses need to be a card for Romance, Mother Day, and the list goes on. You should look into it.

Joanne said...

Lovely Thank you for sharing.
At last the rose season has started in my garden with the ramblers beginning to open. I stood in the garden today surrounded by lovely roses and heady scent.

Tiina of livingConcept said...

wonderful pictures, I am a fan of your blog now. Best wishes from Stockholm!

Roses at Wedgwood House and Gardens said...

Wow Rosie, what a talent you are.......a true artist. Your rose posies are gorgeous. I wondered where the rhubarb was going to come in, then VOILA!!! Wow that looks fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your great recipe and magnificent roses. Hope your hutch and dining suite turn out well! Of course, I am beginning to think that was a silly thing to say, heehee! Look forward to the pictures.
Thanks again for sharing.
Pauline

PS. Oops, Sorry Rosie, I originally posted this to a different entry in error. Subsequently copied to here! I think it is time to say good night! :) P.

prinsesselinn said...

oh, how i love your blog.
Sooooo beautifull pictures.

lady jicky said...

I love those roses and that cake!!

Mo..."Mo's Cottage" said...

beautiful beautiful post...gorgeous roses...
Hugs,
Mo :-)

Donna Lynn said...

Thanks for the ALWAYS inspiring rose post! I wish my Rhubarb wasn't a pathetic shriveled up plant, guess I better move it, do you think it is bad dirt? Not enough sun? Let me know what you think...BTW, can't wait to see your finished projects, I love before and afters!
XO,
Donna Lynn