Nutty Rhubarb Oatmeal

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Nutty Rhubarb Oatmeal

Rhubarb Vanilla Almond Oatmeal Rhubarb Vanilla Almond Oatmeal

If there is anything this summer has taught me so far, it is to put my expectations aside and embrace the reality of the summer for what it is. This is, like most things, easier said than done. I am (and forever will be) a planner, picturing how an event will play out in my mind, making sure I know all of the details beforehand. I get so caught up in these designs and visions that when change surfaces unexpectedly, it becomes jarring. Taken off guard and scrambling, I find myself needing a moment to compose myself—needing a moment to allow my well laid plans to fade away.

This summer seems to deal me a new set of expectations at the end of each week. It is growing exhausting to keep up with the changes, watching my summer slip so far from the vision I longingly dreamed of in the middle of winter. Right now I am in the middle of taking a deep breath, of composing myself, of preserving a hopeful outlook.

Rhubarb Vanilla Almond Oatmeal

Earlier this week, my boyfriend abruptly had his own summer expectations wiped clean. After a bike accident and a trip to the emergency room, he left with a broken arm, immobilized with a tight-fitting sling. Though I happily took on the role of nurse, we realized the summer plans we made together were going to need quite a bit of editing. For dinner that evening, I cooked up a pot of oatmeal for two by request. Over the stove, as the oats bubbled and boiled, we started a new list of summer plans.

Oatmeal has its own unique curing powers—for body, for soul.

Rhubarb Vanilla Almond Oatmeal

Nutty Rhubarb Oatmeal combines almonds, vanilla, and the tart flavor of rhubarb. Rhubarb is roasted in the oven with a bit of sugar until tender. A traditional brown sugar oatmeal is mixed up, topped with the roasted vanilla rhubarb, a sprinkling of chopped almonds, and a spoonful of ground flaxseed. The oatmeal has a range of textures, spanning crunchy to smooth. This breakfast is lovely on cool summer mornings or when you need a bowl of comfort, served hot.

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Rhubarb Ginger Bars

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Rhubarb Ginger Bars

Rhubarb Ginger Bars

After a long, exhausting week, the words floating around my mind refuse to make sense. They are mixed and jumbled, forming incoherent sentences and phrases. I fear my brain is telling me to take a break—and tonight I am going to set the computer down and listen. As a result, I am going to do something I have never done before.

I am going to let the photographs tell the story for you.

Rhubarb Ginger Bars Rhubarb Ginger Bars
Rhubarb Ginger Bars Rhubarb Ginger Bars
Rhubarb Ginger Bars
Rhubarb Ginger Bars

Rhubarb Ginger Bars are sweet and tart with a side of spice. Rhubarb is simmered until soft and then blended into a smooth puree. The puree is thickened with egg yolks and cornstarch until it has the texture of a soft and silky rhubarb curd. Baked atop a whole wheat cookie crust, these bars set and cut easily. The hint of ginger adds an undertone to the tart rhubarb. With a dusting of powdered sugar, these bars make for a lovely snack whether they are served warm or chilled.

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Double Chocolate Muffins

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Double Chocolate Muffins

Double Chocolate Muffins

Summer is here. The sun is out, shining brightly, heating the earth and the air with a pleasant warmth. The grass is a vivid green, the flowers are in bloom, and the perfumed scent of lilacs floats up in the air and down the paved sidewalks. Children are running and playing, making makeshift soccer goals out of park benches, and young women are sunbathing, soaking up the sun's rays. By all accounts, the weather is lovely—the view outside my window could be an illustration from a children's book.

But for now that's all it is: a view.

Double Chocolate Muffins Double Chocolate Muffins

I have been indoors quite a bit lately, tethered to an electrical outlet, typing away at the computer while writing essays and finishing assignments as I wrap up my degree. As a parade of t-shirts and shorts pass my second-story window, I wear pants and wrap myself in sweatshirts, struggling to keep warm in the air-conditioned building. I feel like I am at the end of two separate extremes, my wishes and duties tugged in opposite directions.

Soon, I tell myself, soon you can take a break and go outside.

Double Chocolate Muffins

I made these muffins last weekend, when the weather was miserable and as cold as my air-conditioned building. It was one of those mornings made for socks and warm breakfasts. Growing up, I was a fan of double chocolate anything but, after eating too many platters of double chocolate chocolate chip pancakes at the local breakfast diner at few years ago, my excitement for the combination has waned. Even so, I felt enough time had passed to give the combination of chocolate and chocolate another chance.

As a self-proclaimed chocolate addict, I could never stray away for too long.

Double Chocolate Muffins

Double Chocolate Muffins are defined by a measuring cup full of cocoa powder and a handful of chocolate chips. The muffins have brown sugar for depth of flavor and ground flaxseeds for health. Before baking, the muffin tops are sprinkled with granulated sugar and miniature chocolate chips for a tasty appearance and extra sweetness. The muffins stay surprisingly moist for a couple days and make for a bright breakfast or afternoon snack.

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