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Allison Tait's avatar

Thanks for this very interesting post! I love rhubarb with a dying love. We had strawberry rhubarb pies when I was growing up, but I see no need for the strawberry! Now I make rhubarb custard tarts (and rhubarb gin 🤷🏻‍♀️) whenever the rhubarb appears. I also cook it an freeze it in batches to last all year.

Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

What a wonderful load of rhubarb 😋 I really like the stuff, especially in a crumble, so it's great to learn more about it. My parents used to grow it in their garden, so this brings back lots of memories. Thank you, Liz!

Susan Dillon's avatar

Another fan of strawberry rhubarb jam and pie here! I smiled at your recollection of being interrogated about the state of your innards. My grandmother (b. 1903) always asked us kids about the state of our bowels. We thought it the strangest thing.

Liz Gwedhan's avatar

I think it was a ‘thing’ of the older generation ! Probably to do with stodgy diets…My Mum did eventually cease interrogating us but when she was very old (in her nineties) it sort of resurfaced as an anxiety issue. Sad really.

Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

Absolutely fascinating Liz, loved every bit of this! And, I love rhubarb too, that "working class" favorite ha! Interestingly, it really has become a bit posh these days with rhubarb chutneys and "shrubs" being offered. I am very keen to read Gertrude Jekyl's Kitchen essays now - thanks for this cheery and informative post.

AOL Online +'s avatar

I loved this, my grandmother used to make similar enquiries to Liz's mother - we couldn't think what she was on about. I loved the illustrations in this piece, and also the references to Gertrude Jekyll whom I had only previously known as a gardener. Wendy

Liz Gwedhan's avatar

Ha ! You spotted what no one else had. It was Agnes Jekyll not her sister in law Gertrude. My mistake. Thanks Wendy.

AOL Online +'s avatar

I must explore Agnes then!

AOL Online +'s avatar

What a find! Agnes Jekyll is a gem.