Thursday, July 25, 2013

Rhubarb-Strawberry Hand Pies


I am the Proud Mama of a grown up rhubarb patch!  I planted it with no idea how to grow rhubarb and little did I know that there are RULES!  

The following spring after the rhubarb crown plant is planted, do not pick any rhubarb.  The following season after that, you may harvest just a very few stalks  (I actually left mine alone year two also, just to make sure it would be healthy).  The third year of growth you may finally take a full harvest - although leave at least one-third of the plant after each harvest to regenerate new growth.  Be sure to cut off any flower stalks that grow! After the last harvest, in early July, allow the plants to grow without picking any more stalks until killed by frost in the fall.  

Do you think I was ready after three years to have some rhubarb?  Oh yes! The very first thing I made were these rhubarb-strawberry hand pies.


Here is my little rhubarb patch. My rhubarb was very happy this year and I and have large bags of cut rhubarb in my freezer from my harvesting so I can continue to enjoy rhubarb sauce or these delicious rhubarb hand pies when the mood strikes.


I found the recipe for the hand pies here but I didn't care for the pastry crust in that recipe when I first made them.  Then I saw a recipe for King Arthur Flour's hand pie crust and gave the hand pies another try and it  was perfection.

I had never made hand pies before.  I love the single serving size and, obviously, being able to eat with your hands. Perfect for big and little boys or girls and picnics in the back yard :)

Feel free to substitute your favorite pie filling if you don't care for rhubarb!

Garden Update ~  Day lily time!  My favorite melon yellow day lily was a gift from a garden forum friend Kim, in Canada who even got all of the necessary horticulture certificates to send it to me years ago.  If you look closely, you can see my rhubarb patch from the other side of the fence :)  Summer's bounty - never ceases to thrill me.



Rhubarb-Strawberry Hand Pies

Strawberry-Rhubarb Hand Pies
Adapted from Bay Area Bites and King Arthur Flour

Yield – 8 hand pies

Pastry 

2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup cold unsalted butter
1/2 cup cold sour cream

To make the dough: Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter, working it in to make a coarse/crumbly mixture. Leave most of the butter in large, pea-sized pieces.

Stir in the sour cream; the dough won't be cohesive. Turn it out onto a floured work surface, and bring it together with a few quick kneads.

Pat the dough into a rough log, and roll it into an 8" x 10" rectangle. Dust both sides of the dough with flour, and starting with a shorter end, fold it in three like a business letter. Flip the dough over, give it a 90° turn on your work surface, and roll it again into an 8" x 10" rectangle. Fold it in three again.

Wrap the dough, and chill for at least 30 minutes before using.

Filling:

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
2 cups rhubarb, washed, trimmed and cut into ½ inch pieces (about 3-4 stalks of rhubarb)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon cornstarch

For Finishing:

1 large egg (whisked with 1 Tablespoon of cold water)
3 tablespoons coarse sugar

In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, honey and cornstarch and stir to mix well. Place over medium heat and cook until thickened and bubbly, stirring frequently, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and chill along with dough until ready to use.

To assemble and bake:

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Roll the chilled dough into a 14″ x 14″ square, and cut it into 16 squares, about 3 1/2″ each. Cut the centers out of eight of the pieces (I used the tip of a small funnel).

Place generous tablespoons of filling on the remaining 8 squares. Spread the filling out a bit, but leave a good 1/2″ border for sealing the pies. Brush the border with some of the egg wash – or use your finger to spread it around the edge. Place the cut out square over the top and press around the border. Use a fork to crimp and seal.

Brush the top of each pie with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sanding sugar.

Bake for about 12-15 minutes – depending on your oven – start checking after 10 minutes. Remove with the pies are golden brown on top. 

90 comments:

  1. really lovely...your patch and the pies!

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  2. Hi Susan, your hand pie look delicious. Very well baked and it look pretty cute. Haven't try rhubarb, will check it out if it's available in my country. I like your beautiful flowers, they look gorgeous.

    Have a great week ahead.

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    1. Thank you, Amelia. Hope you can find some rhubarb there.

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  3. wow homegrown rhubarb!!! These hand pies must have tasted divine, Susan. You have a lovely garden.

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    1. Thank you, Angie! They were delicious - can't wait to try other fillings too :)

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  4. Susan your flowers are beautiful.and the pies look delicious!!

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  5. Oh my! I'm envious (the positive way) that your have homegrown rhubarb! It's would be my dream to have them in my garden (or to have a garden that I can grow things, lol) These rhubarb strawberry hand pies are so adorable! I'm off to the market this weekend for some rhubarb and make these for sure!

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  6. I have never heard of hand pies. These look like delicious little treats - and strawberries and rhubarb make my favourite combination.

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    1. Honestly, I never heard of them either until a year or so ago and now they're popping up everywhere - like Pop Tarts - LOL.

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  7. Your rhubarb plants look so decoratively pretty as well as being a wonderful ingredient, Susan. I can almost taste the tart sweetness of these pies buy your photos--what a fabulous treat!

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  8. Congrats on your first rhubarb harvest Susan, it is exciting indeed! Your plant looks happy and healthy and just wait until you see it next year-enjoy:@)

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  9. WE are living the same garden memories..By far ..a mile..miles..Kim's are the nicest..the others pale..
    Probably like your KA flour recipe compared to les autres!
    My rhubabrb did not do well..I planted it on my borrowed landscape and the wildflowers have engulfed it..
    Love the little pies nana.Love the honey addition..Bet there is one small pair of hands that loves these!
    Really was a great clem year..mine are waning now.. boohoohoo.

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    1. Perhaps you can move your rhubarb to another place? It was such a satisfaction going out the back door and picking my own rhubarb :)

      I know, it's sad to see the final phases of the summer garden begin - August so soon. I'm crying with you :)

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  10. They look totally delicious Susan. I love strawberry/rhubarb pie and I love good pie crust even more, so these would be perfect for me. I get the great filling flavor with more crust than a traditional pie. Now I am definitely ready for breakfast.

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  11. Absolutely stunning - your garden and the hand pies... that pastry recipe is also excellent used on a savoury galette.
    :)
    V

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  12. Que bocado tan estupendo :)
    Un saludito

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  13. Wow, your garden is simply stunning! And gorgeous rhubarb plant! I have some rhubarb seeds and am not confident of growing it in our very hot weather here. Will just have to try! Wow, third year to harvest, I'm not sure I'm all that patient!
    Your rhubarb pies looks so good!
    Hope you have a lovely weekend!

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    1. Thank you, Joyce! I think it likes cooler weather but good luck!

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  14. A rhubarb patch? I am soooooo jealous! I used to have one when I lived in Michigan...now have to depend on spring hothouse grown and some fresh in the summer at Fresh Market or Whole Foods..never as deep a color as hothouse.
    Love your hand pies. They are such fun!

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    1. Thanks, Barbara! I know there is beautiful rhubarb still available at the markets - and very bright red, unlike mine.

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  15. What a beautiful garden and delicious looking hand pies. You make me want to grow rhubarb.

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  16. These are adorable, Susan. Your lilies are gorgeous. xo

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  17. These are beautiful Susan and they look perfect! How lucky you are to have such a nice garden. I haven't dabbled in gardening much, I really need to.

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    1. It's a labor of love, Vicki. Hence the fewer posts in the gardening season :)

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  18. Your garden and pies look wonderful. Next year, I will be able to harvest mine. Can't wait!!

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  19. Dear Susan, your hand pie look delicious, I haven't try rhubarb ! Have a great weekend, a warm hug from Italy...

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    1. Thank you, Chiara! It's delicious sweetened and mixed with strawberries :)

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  20. Oh my God, Susan, I had to read your post out loud to my husband and we are just sitting here laughing out loud so joyfully as we learn about your 3-year agonizing pain in growing rhubarb! GOOD FOR YOU for passing the test with that gorgeous rhubarb in your photos! Keep in mind that you may have to plant more (as we did) if some of the plants die for whatever crazy rhubarb reason! I am truly impressed with your bounty, your hand pie recipes, and your photos of your gorgeous garden!

    Happy summer! xoxo

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    1. Thank you, Roz. Oh dear, maybe I'd better plant some more now, just in case :)

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  21. Delicate, crispy and perfectly portable food!

    Susan, just a few short years ago, I'd wince at the thought of eating rhubarb.
    Now that I'm older and wiser [?] I've embraced the reddish stalks. Maybe I should attempt growing them.

    Then again, lacking the time and patience the plant requires, maybe it's best that I wait for my farming friends' harvest instead.
    Have you noticed I have a tendency to talk myself in and out of things? :)

    In any event, Susan, your garden looks like a fine painting.

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    1. You are so funny, Sol! Thank you and I love your new profile pic, pretty lady!

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  22. I remember as a child sitting in my neighbours rhubarb patch with a bowl of sugar. I used to have a freezer full of tow different varieties when I had my own garden. Love rhubarb!!

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    1. So many more people used to grow rhubarb when I was a kid. Now that it's more available in stores, I don't think people see the need to devote garden space but I just had to try. I love it too!

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  23. These Mini rhubarb pies look so good, I wish I could try one right now:)
    But, being realistic, I'll have to wait until next weekend before baking some of these cuties.
    Susan ,your garden looks wonderful, a real eye candy.

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  24. Susan, These pies are a work of art! First, you have a lot of patience to wait 3 years for the plant to grow, and for this you deserve an award of some sort! Second, your garden is spectacular! I too love gardening but its not nearly as lovely as yours. Lastly, thanks for the great tip about King Arthurs Flour recipe for the pie crust. Its hard to find a good pie crust recipe these days! Have a great weekend!

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  25. Beautiful garden! Never tried rhubarb before.. We can never find it in Miami.. =( Still hopeful we find it one day.

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    1. Thank you! Another friend from the south said she finds it at Whole Foods or Fresh Market.

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  26. I do love hand pies (pop tarts were a favorite thing as a child). I always continued cutting my rhubarb till the end, albeit more gingerly. The plants did just fine. Cutting the flowers is the most important thing to do since they steal all the energy from the plant.
    Wonderful recipe... great photos as always.

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    1. Thank you, Deana! I may try to cut a few more stalks too :)

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  27. Your garden is gorgeous, Susan. I used to have a large one and remember all the time and work involved...a labor of love to be sure. I love a good crust so hand pies are very popular in my house. Your beautiful rhubarb plants remind me of those in my grandmother's garden long ago.

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    1. Thanks much, Cathy! I think many of us have childhood memories of rhubarb patches - that's why it meant a lot of me to try and grow some myself.

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  28. Had to pin...the crust sounds so delicious. Good tips about harvesting rhubarb, too!

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  29. Looks delicious and your garden looks beautiful :-) I made some little rhubarb hand pies recently too. We've decided a small batch of handpies is smarter than making a whole pie for two. I really need to have my own little patch too :-)

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    1. Thank you, Suzy! Yes you do need a little rhubarb patch and I know you have room for it somewhere in that beautiful back yard of yours :)

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  30. Susan, I can't tell which excites me more...those darling little pies or your GORGEOUS flowers!!! How pretty they all look!
    My Mom grew rhubarb but as a child, I didn't care for it at all. TOO TART! Maybe I should give it another go, as an adult...with lots of sugar added. LOL

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    1. Thanks, Rett! I bet you would like it now - especially mixed with strawberries and yes, sugar :)

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  31. Amazing garden. Beautiful post. Delicious recipe. Hope you're enjoying summer!

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  32. Susan, I enjoyed the glimpse of your garden and the information about rhubarb. Your pies are adorable!

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  33. Wow I did NOT realize that rhubarb took so much planning ahead! Kudos to you for sticking with it. And these hand pies are seriously the prettiest things I've ever seen!

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  34. What fun to finally harvest and enjoy your rhubarb and in such a delicious manner. The pies are adorable and look delicious too.

    Gorgeous flowers and vibrant bloom must be an immense pleasure to stroll through these summer days.

    Always a joy visiting with you!

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    1. I can't tell you what a satisfaction it was, Lorraine :) Thanks so much!

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  35. Thanks Susan for your garden primer on rhubarb. I had no idea about rules!!! Your garden is glorious and you've inspired me to plant some. Do you plant it in the Fall, or do I have to wait till Spring? I'm craving a delish hand pie.

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    1. I've read that spring or fall are the best times to plant rhubarb, Gnee, and believe me, I did a LOT of reading on it :)

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    2. I can tell you've become an authority on the topic! Thanks for your help. It's going in this Fall for sure.

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  36. Oh those hand pies are beautiful!! We're having a neighborhood party Saturday night and someone is making hand pies. I am envious, pie crust and I aren't friends. :)

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    1. This crust was really easy, Julie! I hope you give it a try :)

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  37. I just replanted rhubarb again this year. I haven't had it in years and last time it didn't survive. I hate buying it at the store, but at least I could, right?
    these are beautiful. What a fun treat and I Love rhubarb!

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    1. I hope this time it survives, Jacqueline! Thanks so much :)

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  38. Those are terrific looking hand pies and must have been delicious.

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  39. You garden photos made me gasp! How gorgeous and these are the prettiest hand pies I've ever seen. Bravo! I planted asparagus this year and have to wait a year or two before harvest - can't wait!

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  40. I'm enchanted by rhubarb plants and had no idea you had to wait so long for a harvest-truly worth waiting for!
    Love your rhubarb hand pies-they are so sweet and the perfect way to use your rhubarb bounty ;-)
    Aren't flowers in the garden delightful?! Have a wonderful week ;)

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  41. First time I seen rhubarb leaves...and this hand pies look perfect, directly from the professional bakery...
    Thanks for the recipe Susan and hope you are having a great week :D

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  42. I just got my hands on some perfect strawberries!

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  43. these look awesome I want a rhubarb plant :-) oh and maybe add your blog to your google plus profile

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    1. Thank you, Rebecca! The reason I don't want to add my blog to Google+ is I've heard some bloggers are concerned about privacy issues with Google+ taking over the comment format. I'm afraid it would cut down on the number of people who would otherwise freely comment.

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  44. A rhubarb patch!! I am so jealous! I have never baked with rhubarb, but it is something that I have wanted to do for such a long time. These hand pies look perfect!

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  45. Your garden is beautiful with its blooms Susan! How wonderful to finally be able to harvest your rhubarb. I've never had it, and every spring I vow to try it. Adorable and delicious hand pies!

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  46. Great with your rhubarb, Susan! Lucky you! I used to be the proud mama of a rhubarb patch and miss it. Your pies look scrumptious and the day lilies are gorgeous. Wish they bloomed for a longer period!

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  47. I'm a rhubarb and this is such a fabulous way to eat it.

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  48. Loving your rhubarb patch and your garden looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!!(Oh how I miss summer days...) Those cute little pies...sound Delightful dearest Susan!

    Enjoy the season!

    Hugs <3

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  49. Hmmm hand pies! I love eating them! i always thought it would be messy to make them or much effort but does not look that much.
    And I have much respect for you for waiting three years for the crop. I am not sure if I could do it :)

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  50. Since we don't have rhubarb here, your post was very educational and I got to see the plant as well! Your effort paid Susan and these little pies are as pretty as the plant!

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