"You Choose" - Dana's ingredient: Rhubarb

"You Choose" - Dana's ingredient: Rhubarb

This is the very first blog post in my new series "You Choose".   I posted on My Facebook Page earlier this week and asked some of my friends & page followers to please give me an ingredient - something unique or just something they'd like to see in a healthy recipe.  I will then find a recipe, tweak it a bit, and blog about it.  I'll also tag the person who suggested it in the post on my Facebook page.  I have gotten a nice response so far!

Would you like to participate too?  Please visit my Facebook page, click on "Notes" and add your ingredient - a veggie, a fruit, an herb, a root...(anything that's not meat).  I'd love to see some more fresh, seasonal things that I can find at a farmer's market.  If you can't find the note, no worries!  Just comment on my page.  I'll see it.  What are you waiting for?  Go now...well, after you read this blog post.  Here's the link:  Fit & Healthy Mommy

Our first ingredient was chosen by my BFF, Dana Harding.  She requested RHUBARB.  I love Rhubarb!!!  However, I've pretty much only used it in pies, crumbles & crisps (or, when I was younger, I ate it raw in my grandmother's back yard).  I decided to make a savory recipe using rhubarb.  I have to say...it was pretty amazing.  Josh - my dear husband - does not like rhubarb.  We've been together for nearly 18 years and I have never seen him eat it.  He surprised me by asking for seconds (then even went back for thirds!!)  Score!

I made pizza!  I found a great recipe for Savory Rhubarb & Chipotle Goat Cheese Pizza (thanks to a great blog post by Eats Well With Others).  I tweaked it a little and here's what I came up with...

* Homemade or store bought pizza crust (I used an organic, whole wheat crust from MOMs)
* 1 lb rhubarb, cut into 1/4" pieces
* 1 cup cranberry juice

* 1/4 cup brown sugar (I used Turbinado, or maybe it was Sucanat...one of those!)

* 3T balsamic vinegar
* 1 tsp ginger

* 1 tsp cornstarch (optional)
* baby spinach
* feta or goat cheese crumbles (couple of ounces)

* chipotle chili powder (about 1/2 tsp)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Add rhubarb, cranberry juice, brown sugar/sugar substitute, balsamic vinegar & ginger to pot and bring to a boil.  Let reduce until it resembles a chunky cranberry sauce texture.  Mix cornstarch with a little bit of water, then add to rhubarb mixture.  Let thicken slightly and remove from heat.  Toss goat cheese crumbles with chili powder.  Slice baby spinach thinly.  Spread the rhubarb mixture onto pizza crust (I had extra so I put it into a sealed container in the fridge - looking forward to using it as a spread!)  Sprinkle the spinach on top of the pizza, then top with the chili cheese crumbles.  Bake in oven about 12 minutes or so, until done.  SO GOOD!

 

Rhubarb, chopped & ready to go!

Chili cheese crumbles & chopped baby spinach

Rhubarb sauce, at a boil

Pizza, before baking

Pizza, after baking

I really had two and a half slices - it was THAT good!

Don't forget to hop over to My Facebook Page and give me your ingredient!!  I hope to have new recipes to share with you all summer long!