Today is all things rhubarb in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Laneboro is designated as the Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota and we are very proud of it! Each year on the first Saturday in June is the annual Rhubarb Fest starting off with a Rhubarb 5k Run, then heading to Sylvan Park for rhubarb tasting, rhubarb games, and for entertainment listening to the Rhubarb Sisters sing. The Bethlehem LYO kids sell Rhudogs – hotdogs with rhubarb ketchup/relish. The Bethlehem WELCA as well as other churches sell baked goods with rhubarb as the main ingredient. Bethlehem Church also offers hot sandwiches with a rhubarb mustard. Of course, there will be plenty of rhubarb pie to eat!!
Many people attend the Rhubarb Fest in the morning and ride along on Bluffscape Amish Tours in the afternoon. A large group from central Minnesota is bringing two coach buses down for the Rhubarb Fest and then we are offering a step-on guide to take them on an afternoon tour with Bluffscape. Since I am guiding tours today, I will have to miss the fest, but my daughters will fill me in on all the rhubarb splendor.
Below is a favorite rhubarb dessert recipe that is very easy to make. I shared it with an Amish friend last week and she loved it and plans to make more. Yesterday I made the dessert with lemon cake mix and it was very good. Enjoy!
Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
1 box white or lemon cake mix
3-4 cups of diced rhubarb
1 cup sugar
1 pint cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake mix according to box directions. Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 pan. In another bowl mix the rhubarb and sugar. Sprinkle rhubarb on top of cake batter. Evenly pour cream on top of the rhubarb. Bake in oven for 60 minutes, test with toothpick when done.
Serve while still warm or chilled.
