Whimsical Kitten

Today I have made a strawberry flan, woopee!

Later on I plan to cosy up on the sofa with my afghan blankie, both dogs at my feet, piece of flan in hand, G&T nearby and watch:

The Secret Garden on Channel 5 @ 5.15pm – an enchanting film

Dr Who on BBC 1 @ 7.05pm – last episode in series, sigh, can Martha save the world?

Jekyll on BBC 1 @ 9pm – Dr Jackman and Mr Hyde.

I have a fairly large rhubarb patch from plants that I grew from seed last year, which are mature enough now to start pulling the stems. At the weekend I harvested 3lbs of stems with which I made a delicious rhubarb crumble and 4lbs of rhubarb and ginger jam, which is, even if I say so myself, absolutely divine.

My current obsession with rhubarb has led me to discover the many other wonderful uses of this fantastic vegetable (yes, I know I always though it was a fruit too!).

1.  Rhubarb has been used medicinally for centuries as a laxative, antiphlogistic (counteracts inflammation and fever), and homeostatic in the treatment of constipation, diarrhoea, jaundice, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, menstrual disorders, conjunctivitis, traumatic injuries, superficial suppurating sores and ulcers. It is also applied externally for thermal burns. I am not suggesting that you self medicate for any of the above conditions with rhubarb unless you know what you are doing, particularly as rhubarb leaves are poisonous.

2. You can use rhubarb to clean your pots and pans, an application of rhubarb over the afflicted area will apparently bring back the shine and is environmentally friendly too.

3. Rhubarb is a fairly strong dye that can be made into a rinse to lighten hair colour for those with light brown to blonde hair, hhmm I may give that one a miss, I can smell disaster looming.

4. Rhubarb leaves (did I mention the leaves are poisonous?) can be used to make an effective organic insecticide against any leaf eating insects (e.g. caterpillars, aphids etc.) boil a few pounds of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for about 15 – 20 minutes and then use the solution to spray the plants but keep it away from your children and pets it is harmful - I fully intend to try this concoction out as my brassicas are annihilated on an annual basis by hoards of very hungry caterpillars. Grrrrrrr.

5. Rhubarb has inspired art, music and poetry (and blogs!!) - check out John Cleese’s ’The Rhubarb Tart Song’ and James Graingers rhubarb inspired paintings.

6. Scientists have discovered that sodium oxalate which is found in rhubarb leaves can be used to convert environmentally damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) into four harmless components – sodium chloride, sodium fluoride, carbon and carbon dioxide – but don’t ask me how.

7. Rhubarb being a fiberous plant can (and is) made into paper.

Last but not least I couldn’t pass up the opportunity of mentioning one of my favourite 1970’s cartoons ’Roobarb and Custard’, in each episode of five wonderful wobbling minutes narrated by Richard Briars, Roobarb the green dog would come up with a plan to make some fantastic creation in his garden shed, meanwhile Custard the sarcastic pink cat would look on mockingly from on top of the fence, all the while the birds would be chattering and twittering in the trees – aahh happy days.

Hurrah for rhubarb…………want to know more? – Then visit www.rhubarbinfo.com/