About Me

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I was raised by my father (God rest his soul) in the valley of Nebraska. The background picture is of the Scottsbluff National Monument I took on a trip home... Thank Goodness I had Czech & German Grandmother's and Aunt's who taught me how to cook, sew and overall be the most giving person ever. The lady in this picture is my Aunty. She passed from Alzheimer's a few years ago. and was a huge influence on who I am and how I love. She and My Best Friend inspired this blog... I don't want anything to be forgotten!

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Diva's Rhubarb Jam

Diva’s Memories of Recipes
  Rhubarb Jam  



Inspiration from: Grandma Margaret always had a bowl of this mixed in the fridge.  Grandad Dale always grew huge rows of rhubarb he perfected over the years from his horticulture knowledge. 


Ingredients
4 cups rhubarb
2 cups white sugar
1 TB water

1/2 tsp lemon juice
1-1 1/2 oz box of strawberry
jello
Directions

Cut rhubarb into 1 inch cuts.  Bring water and rhubarb to a boil. Add sugar and let boil til rhubarb is stringy and tender.  (about 15 mins)  Remove from heat and add lemon juice and jello.


Variations
The jello adds color to the rhubarb if it is green and also helps it to gel.

Yields:  2 cups

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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Diva's Grandma Z's Rhubarb Cake or any Fruit

Diva’s Memories of Recipes
Grandma Z's Rhubarb Cake
Inspiration: We made this on the farm all the time.  You can use any fruit for a variety.  I even use it to make carrot cake.  The cinnamon & sugar on the top makes it require no icing.
Ingredients:
1~1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup sour milk (if you don't have sour milk, add 1 TB vinegar to milk)
1/2 cup sugar
1~1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
Cream brown sugar and butter slightly, add egg and vanilla and beat.  Sift together soda and flour and add to cream mixture. Stir in rhubarb and sour milk til creamy.  Put in a 9x13 greased baking dish and Bake @ 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes.

Variation: refrigerate and can be topped with whipped cream or ice cream.


Monday, February 20, 2023

Diva's Grandma Sarah's Blackberry dumplings

Diva’s Memories of Recipes
Grandma's little helper, I would help her pick the berries.
 One day I ate them all and brought her a bucket full of kittens instead:)
Good thing she loved me
Grandma Sarah's Blackberry dumplings
Inspiration: My German Grandma Sarah Rutz always had wild blackberries growing in her yard near Scottsbluff, NE.  It was an awesome treat for her to make her dumplings.
Ingredients:
1 quart Blackberries
2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
2 TB butter
________
Dumplings:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1~1/2 baking powder
1/2 cup milk
3 TB sugar
2 TB oil or melted butter
Instructions:
Wash and cook berries until tender in a large heavy kettle.  May need to adjust sugar if not sweet enough. Cover and bring to a boil.
Drop tsp's of dumplings into boiling mixture.  Cook 10 minutes without lifting the lid.

Variation:  Serve warm with cream
me and Grandma Sarah at her house on E in Scottsbluff, NE in the 70's.  Right through that backdoor was where she did her magical cooking and teaching. her kitchen was 6x6, but the most awesome cooking came from her little space in the world.  Grandma has been gone since 1996, but every now and then when I cook her recipes, I smile and say hi Grandma:)