25 June 2011

Is My Face Red (and White) Rhubarb Lemonade for Canada Day Celebrations

Rhubarb Lemonade

Normally when your face is red you are feeling bashful or embarrassed. But today, and for the next week as a lead up to Canada Day, my face will be wearing very patriotic red (and white) from licking my lips while enjoying a myriad of red (and white) dishes. I am resurrecting my challenge of last year where I created a menu from start from to finish using red and white ingredients. I am always up for a challenge and creating a menu based on a theme is a blogging challenge I relish. My friend Joan of FOODalogue is always cooking in colour too. I challenge you to come up with a menu using the colours of your own countries flag. Let's show some national pride here! What menu would you come up with using the colours of your own flag?

Canada's 144th birthday is fast approaching on July 1st. For many this is just another long weekend but Canada Day is an opportunity to gather in every community from coast to coast to coast to celebrate the vision of our ancestors. We celebrate with community events, backyard barbecues, family picnics and plenty of fireworks in each and every community across the country. Canada is a melting pot of cultures, sights and sounds and is steeped in history. As a Canadian I hope I have shared a glimpse into our passion for food over the past 4 years of blogging with local ingredients thrown in for good measure.

This year not only will we be wearing red and white T-shirts and sun hats at the MTBT household (the colours of the Canadian flag), but, we will also be enjoying red and white dishes... from appetizers to dessert. I have dreamed up a red and white menu that would make our ancestors proud and one that celebrates the Canadian spirit. After all what is a celebration without food!!! And what is Canada Day without red and white somewhere in the picture, or as in this case the star of the show!! Last years patriotic menu consisted of a Tomato Salad with Pickled Shallots and Goat Cheese Crouton , Spanish-inspired tapas of Romesco with Grilled Bread and Shrimp, Baby Scallops Ceviche in Radicchio Cups,  Red and White Potato and Radish SaladHalibut with Grilled Red Pepper Harissa and a finale of Raspberry Tiramisu.

Of course you don't have to be Canadian to enjoy these summertime favourites. You just have to have a love of good food which as bloggers I know you do!!!Each recipe uses fresh local ingredients and celebrates our local producers and farmers. Every day we should be excited about what we are eating even if it just means making use of a wonderful find at our local farmers market. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Canada or any country in the world than to take pride in what we have to offer from coast to coast.

To start us off I am offering a refreshing drink to quench your thirst. If you are over the age of 19 you can add a little vodka or tequila as you watch your steaks grill on the barbecue! What better way to start our menu than with a beverage made with tart seasonal rhubarb from our very own Canadian Living magazine!


**Rhubarb Lemonade**
recipe from Canadian Living

2 cups (500 mL) chopped rhubarb
3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons (10 mL) grated lemon rind
1/2 cup (125 mL) lemon juice, (approx 3 lemons)
2 cups (500 mL) ice cubes
10 lemon slices

In large saucepan, stir together rhubarb, sugar, 3/4 cup (175 mL) water and lemon rind; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and rhubarb breaks up, about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice. Strain through cheesecloth-lined sieve, pressing out liquid. Let syrup cool. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 1 week.)

In serving pitcher, mix syrup with 5 cups (1.25 L) water; stir in ice to chill. Garnish with lemon slices.


You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
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27 comments:

  1. Rhubarb lemonade looks kike a refreshing and very summertime drink. It is so pretty too! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  2. Happy Canada Day Val... I need some {like a whole jug} of this beautiful bev as it's sweltering hot here, and the lemonade looks so refreshing!

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  3. Wonderful color. I'm headed up to the square for the farmers market and hope to find rhubarb.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  4. That does look like one seriously refreshing, delicious drink. I'll have mine with vodka please....

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  5. Happy Canada day my dear friend, look nice and fresh, cheers!! gloria

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  6. Happy Canada Day! That lemonade must be exquisite. What a lovely flavor.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  7. Your lemonade sounds unique and delicious. As to the challenge - you've set me thinking. Have a wonderful weekend, Val.

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  8. I adore flavored lemonades

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  9. It looks pretty tasty to me! Great combo to try on a hot day if it ever warms up here! Great photo!

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  10. Happy Canada Day! 4th of July is generally filled with red white and blue food combination's. That usually means strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. I am going to have to think out of the box to come up with some great combination's like this!

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  11. Mmmm! I'm looking forward to your red & white menus this year. This is a great way to kick things off. So refreshing!

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  12. What a lovely and colorful drink Val. All it needs is a splash of rum. Happy Canada Day.
    Sam

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  13. What a very nice comment for you to make! Thanks!

    Guess what? I know nothing about rhubarb! I don't think I've even ever tasted it. Shocking, right? Your lemonade looks refreshing.

    I look forward to the rest of your red + white menu.

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  14. Happy (almost) Canada Day! This rhubarb lemonade looks delightfully refreshing. I could add a skewer of blueberries to it and it would be totally appropriate for our July 4th holiday as well! :)

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  15. How refreshing Val! I love the flavours you have going on here. I love rhubarb!

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  16. I like rhubard and this really looks refreshing. Happy C Day and I cannot wait to see what you come up with. Maybe I will joing you.

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  17. I can't believe a whole year has passed. Last year I made rhubarb ice cream for this. I made rhubarb punch for my Grilling class and they love it. Prairie people love their rhubarb.

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  18. Rhubarb is sooo under-rate in the UK. I personally love the stuff. I've never heard of rhubarb lemonade though. What a great idea. Looking forward to the rest of your Canada Day recipes...

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  19. AnonymousJune 26, 2011

    Looks delicious Val. We're going to be in Algonquin Park for Canada Day - I can just imagine sipping these at the end of the dark . . . listening to the loons . . . watching the sun set. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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  20. AnonymousJune 26, 2011

    BTW - the strawberries in chianti with crushed peppercorns and ricotta posted here would be a great addition to your menu. :-)

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  21. I would absolutely turn a shade of red for this and I'm not even a Canadian! I wish I had a glass since it's so warm here today!

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  22. I've never heard of rhubarb lemonade but I'm up for anything with rhubarb in it. Can't wait to make this! Thanks for sharing!!

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  23. This sounds delicious! Happy Canada Day to you!

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  24. this is far and away the most unique way i've ever seen rhubarb used. what a refreshing creation, in many ways!

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  25. now i am REALLY thirsty! this looks amazing! happy canada day!

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  26. Oh I do love this Val! Such a clever use of rhubarb and such a pretty, summery colour :)

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  27. This sounds so delicious! Happy belated Canada day! :)

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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