Rhubarb Pie

"Rhubarb is used as a strong laxative..."

Yea, I have never had rhubarb pie, though I know it can grow in the south. I think it might look like celery, but it is red and not green. I do remember hearing that the leaves were poisonous.

Oh, take me back! There is no more wonderful elixer than a strawberry rhubarb pie. My in laws grow gobs of it in Illinois, but our pitiful attempts at transplanting to Chattanooga failed miserably, but I think that was due to our gardening ineptness rather than anything intrinsic in the plant itself.
It is true though - that you never see that pie in Chattavegas. I wonder why, when it seems to be such great home cookin food! (I wonder if its ever graced the menu of Bea's?)

Oh, take me back! There is no more wonderful elixer than a strawberry rhubarb pie. My in laws grow gobs of it in Illinois, but our pitiful attempts at transplanting to Chattanooga failed miserably, but I think that was due to our gardening ineptness rather than anything intrinsic in the plant itself.
It is true though - that you never see that pie in Chattavegas. I wonder why, when it seems to be such great home cookin food! (I wonder if its ever graced the menu of Bea's?)

I grew up in the northwest and we had strawberry rhubarb pie every summer. It's awesome. We grew the rhubarb in our garden and there were heaps of it in the supermarket. I think it grows best in milder climates.

I grew up in the northwest and we had strawberry rhubarb pie every summer. It's awesome. We grew the rhubarb in our garden and there were heaps of it in the supermarket. I think it grows best in milder climates.

it grew in my back yard in Ohio (Cleveland area) when I was a kid... we used to make strawberry rhubarb pancake topping! Man. Good stuff.

it grew in my back yard in Ohio (Cleveland area) when I was a kid... we used to make strawberry rhubarb pancake topping! Man. Good stuff.

Leda Goodman makes a great rhubarb pie and probably could tell you where to locate the stalks. The only time I've had it was at her house...

I believe rhubarb can grow in stalks that are either green or red- they're just different varieties. The red is just a lot more attractively pink- in pies, stewed, jammed, sauced, etc. I don't know about Chattanooga's growing season, but it's available in Iowa right now. As for growing it, it requires a few years to get a plant to the point where you can "harvest" it. I too have heard that the leaves are poisonous. I've made many a rhubarb pie, since it's my dad's favorite and it's always been around where I've lived, and one of the best things there is that it is easier than many fruit pies- just wash and chop- no peeling, or coring, or any other such mess. If you find a recipe you like, I recommend adding just a bit of orange zest to the pie crust dough. Hope your search is successful!

My mother, fine Southern woman that she is, makes strawberry rhubarb pie. I believe it's an old fashioned pie that's somewhat out of fashion.

I don't remember her recipe exactly, but here are the general guidelines.

Line a pie dish with a crust.

Slice enough rhubarb and strawberries to fill a pie (appox. 2-4 cups of each?). Mix in a little salt and cornstarch and some sugar (enough to make it sweet but not too sweet -- ~ 1 cup). Dump mixture into pie plate. Place 2nd crust on top, crimp edges, and cut slits in dough.

Bake at about 350 degrees for about an hour.

Sorry this is very exact.

True rhubarb pie does not have strawberries in it. I've noticed the South has contaminated it by adding the strawberries. In Maine, my mom used to grow huge stalks of it and make the best rhubarb pie. It grew so big my brother would use it as a cover to go #2 when he didn't want to go inside.

I think it's not heard of as much in the south because it's so hard to grow down here.

We had giant lush patches of it growing up north - but so far the summer heat and humidity here have cooked it in the ground.

I think I'll plant it again next year in a more shadded portion of the garden and hope for the best - because our four strawberry barrels wanted some rhubarb company for a pie. Since no one in my family has ever lived south of Indiana, I doubt the combo is a is just a southern recipe.

Rhubarb pie conquers all. My grandmother (who lived in Oregon) used to make it when I was a kid. I've had both cherry rhubarb pie and rhubarb pie proper. Both are awesome, but I think the cherry rhubarb is better.

rhubarb, rhubarb! Seems 'tis the season...i just got a mega hankering for just such a pie after (I estimated it at) 15 years without...so our poor child got a rhubarb and a strawberry-rhubarb pie for her 1st birthday. Yeah!!! Pie on your face!

Can get rhubarb in season at the Dekalb Farmer's Market in Decatur (Atlanta), and the Joy of Cooking has a great recipe for it!

We have rhubarb in our garden, but it's just a little guy, at least compared to the rhubarb you can grow in up north. The trick is to plant it with columbine, because they're companion plants. They both thrive together. I think you can buy two or three plants together at lowe's for less than $5. It's just enough to get a few pies, cakes, and crisp out of. Mmmmm.

If rhubarb isn't in season some grocers carry it frozen. Just be careful, because if you thaw it with hot water, it'll be MUCH juicier than normal (so you'll need to counter it with flour or less butter, etc...) And "true" rhubarb pie may just be the rhubarb, but the strawberries tone it down nicely, without as much sugar required. Also, just use the red parts : )