Rustic Rhubarb Scone Cake

Definitely not paleo, but for sure rhubarb-a-licious! The first time I baked this, I woke Griffin up and he said, “Are we having rhubarb pie?” and I said, “Yes! How did you know?” and he said, “I heard lots of rhubarby things going on! “

Rustic Rhubarb Scone Cake
Rustic Rhubarb Scone Cake

Dough
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup sugar
1 pinch salt
½ cup butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
¾ cup buttermilk

Filling
1 lb rhubarb, chopped (that’s about 5 stalks)
½ cup sugar

Glaze
1 egg white, lightly whisked with a little water
sugar, for sprinkling

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F Butter a 10 inch deep-dish pie dish and set aside.
  2. For the dough sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl.
  3. Work in butter using your finger tips until dough resembles coarse cornmeal.
  4. Gradually add buttermilk folding the wet and dry ingredients together until a soft dough forms (you may have to add a little water).
  5. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead lightly just until the dough comes together (do not overwork it or it will be tough).
  6. Divide dough into two equal portions. Roll out half of the dough into a 12 inch round and place in pie dish.
  7. For the filling combine rhubarb and sugar in a bowl and stir to mix well.
  8. Pour filling into the pie dish.
  9. Roll out the remaining dough into another 12 inch round to from a pastry lid. Brush the rim of the bottom crust with water and put on the lid. Press together to seal.
  10. Brush the glaze evenly over the top crust and then sprinkle lightly and evenly with sugar. Cut 3-4 steam slits into the top of the pie.
  11. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the fruit tender for about 50 minutes.

Griffin Says Roundup

Griffin: “Could you please serve me some fruit?”
Me: “Sure!”
Griffin: “Now you’re my servant!”
Me: “Not so fast, Bucko.”

——

Me: “Griffin, you need to go outside. You’re starting to annoy me.”
Griffin: “But…!”
Me: “Go, now.”
<goes outside reluctantly>
Andrew (outside): “So I hear you’re being annoying.”
Griffin: “Yes I am.”

——

Griffin: “I’m going to become a mama soon.”
Me: “Oh? When is your baby coming?”
Griffin: “In April!”
Me: “What will you name your baby?”
Griffin: “Maggie Tulip! And she will be one, just like Maggie”
Me: “How will we tell them apart?”
Griffin: “Well, Maggie Tulip has red hair, like a tulip.”

——

Griffin: “Can you ask Mama to get some green beans on her way home from her trip?”
Andrew: “Well, she will be tired and doesn’t have a car, so I think we’ll just go shopping tomorrow.”
Griffin: “No, I mean, she can just ask the airplane to go to the store!”

——

Me: “Griffin, should we put different leg warmers on Maggie? Then she’ll look like Punky Brewster!”
Griffin: “A Pumpkin Rooster?!?!”

 

Maggie Walks!

Maggie is now 13 months, and she has crossed the threshold into walking! We have been expecting this for over a month and a half now, but she has proven to us once again that she’s on her own schedule. One of the reasons we suspect she has been waiting is that she’s been getting around quite well with knee walking (which she demonstrates at the beginning of the video. She also demonstrates her use of the sign “more” in there, too), much to the delight of strangers when we’re out in public! Today, while Griffin and I were playing a game, something just clicked for her and off she went. It’s only a matter of time before she starts running to keep up with her big brother!

http://youtu.be/CgGx25Nf3lc

Time for Tea

Maggie and I just played “Tea Time” together, passing the cup back and forth and pretending to sip (or slurp) from it. Pretend games! My favorite.

Maggie turn.
Maggie’s turn.
Daddy's turn.
Daddy’s turn.
"Now that I've done this 10,000 times, I'm pooped."
“Now that I’ve done this 10,000 times, I’m pooped.”

Maggie Busts a Move

Maggie, my parents, and I recently flew out to Oregon to attend a dear family friend’s wedding. It was a lovely day spent in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, but Maggie was beyond tired after dinner and we thought it was time to go as the evening set in. Just as we were preparing to say our goodbyes, the music started playing and Maggie perked up. Unprompted by anyone, she started tearing it up! The video I captured unfortunately missed some of her best moves, but you’ll get the idea. Next time the crankies are coming on, I think I’ll throw on some fast tunes and get her to dance!

http://youtu.be/IyePHWCEORI

Griffin’s Memorial Day Career Thoughts

Listening to the radio on Memorial Day, Griffin asked me what a soldier was. I explained, as best I could. Griffin was silent for a while, and then announced:

I don’t want to be a soldier. I think I would like to be a scientist. In space.

 

A few days later, on June 1, we were biking and stopped to look at the falls by the old Ford hydro plant. After watching for a bit, Griffin said:

Maybe when I’m a adult I won’t go to space, maybe I’ll be a waterfall tester.

In a subsequent conversation, Griffin explains waterfall testing in more detail:

A waterfall tester uses a screen like an x-ray to make sure the blades are turning.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Music

Sarah and Maggie flew off to Portland yesterday, leaving Griffin and me for five days on our own. We began it with a divine night’s sleep: 12 hours for Griffin and 10 for me. (I snuck down to the basement and played a few rounds of Super Mario—don’t tell G.) This morning, while making breakfast, Griffin announced, “I want to listen to some loud rock ‘n’ roll music!”

We’re off to a good start.

The latest news from Sarah and Andrew.