Speedy Rhubarb Fool Food

RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• In a heavy 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy pot combine rhubarb, sugar, and water and bring to a boil, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb begins to break down, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove lid and briskly simmer, stirring frequently, until rhubarb is completely broken down into a thick purée and reduced to about 2 cups, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Transfer rhubarb to a bowl and let it cool, then chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: Purée can be made and refrigerated, covered, up to 2 days ahead.
• Beat cream in a deep bowl with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks-for this fool, I like the cream to be slightly beyond the soft peak stage but not quite stiff-and fold it into the rhubarb. Don't feel you have to completely incorporate the cream and the rhubarb into a smooth pink fluff. I like to leave it a little streaky with swirls of rhubarb coursing through the cream.
• Divide the fool among 6 goblets.

RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• Trim the ends from the rhubarb and cut into 6 inch lengths. Soak in a large bowl full of cold water for 20 minutes. Drain and pat dry, then cut crosswise into 1/2 inch slices.
• In a saucepan, stir together the orange juice, 1 cup of sugar and salt. Bring to a boil and add the rhubarb. Return to a boil, then set heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring only 2 or 3 times, until rhubarb is tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Stirring too much will cause the rhubarb to break down. Transfer the rhubarb mixture to a glass or ceramic bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• Whip the heavy cream with the remaining sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer until it can stand in a soft peak.
• To assemble the fools, spoon 1/4 cup of the rhubarb mixture into each of 8 small glasses. Cover with the same amount of whipped cream. Repeat layers until you reach the top of the glasses. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours before serving.

CLASSIC RHUBARB FOOL WITH FARM-FRESH CREAM

Steps:

• Put rhubarb, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water into a medium saucepan. Cover, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir once, and cook, uncovered, until rhubarb has completely softened, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Transfer rhubarb mixture to a food processor, and puree until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl. Refrigerate rhubarb puree until cool, about 30 minutes.
• Beat cream with an electric mixer or by hand until soft peaks form. Gently fold rhubarb puree into the whipped cream in 2 batches, leaving some streaks remaining. Spoon into glasses.

BLACKBERRY RHUBARB FOOL TART

Steps:

• For the tart crust: In a large bowl combine the flour and salt. Cut the chilled butter into 1-inh pieces. Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut the butter into the flour. Cut together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix very gently, just until the mixture can be formed into a ball. Do not overwork the dough. Press the ball into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thick and place into a tart pan. Trim the edges. Cover the crust loosely with parchment paper and weight with pie weights or dried beans. Blind bake the pie crust for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely.
• For the Fool: In a saucepan, combine the rhubarb, sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until the rhubarb is very soft, about 15 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat. Puree the mixture in a food processor. Refrigerate until cold. Fold the puree into the whipped cream. Refrigerate for several hours. 1 hour before serving, spoon the fool into the prepared tart crust. Place the blackberries on top of the tart.

RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• Chop Rhubarb and put in a pan with 5 tbsp golden sugar and cook until soft. Put aside and allow to cool. Drain some of the juice and keep for serving.
• Whisk the cream until soft peaks can be formed then fold in the Yoghurt and Rhubarb.
• Divide the mix into serving dishes then chill in the fridge.
• When ready to serve garnish with mint leaves and the remaiining juice.

RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• To make the fool, put the rhubarb, honey, orange zest and juice, candied ginger, vanilla bean, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine, then cover and cook, stirring every few minutes, for 10 minutes, until the mixture has come to a boil and the rhubarb has softened. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then remove the vanilla bean. Transfer the compote to a bowl, and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes, until very cold.
• Whip the cream and sugar until soft peaks form, either by hand or using an electric mixer on medium speed. Set aside 1/3 cup of the compote to garnish the dessert, then fold the remaining compote into the whipped cream. Spoon the fool into six 1/2-cup glasses or dishes and chill for 1 hour before serving topped with the remaining compote.
• Storage: This fool is best served the day it is made, but any leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• If you would like to garnish the dessert with candied rhubarb strips, make them first: Preheat the oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat mat or lightly greased parchment paper.
• Cut the rhubarb into 6-inch lengths, then cut each piece into strips 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch thick with a good peeler, a mandoline, or a well-positioned knife. Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook and stir until the sugar is dissolved, then remove from the heat. Dip the rhubarb ribbons into the syrup, then place them on the prepared baking sheet, laying them out flat and ensuring that they do not touch each other.
• Bake for about 45 minutes, until dry. While they are still warm, twist the strips into shapes, wrapping them around your finger or the handle of a clean wooden spoon. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

BERRY RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine rhubarb, sugar, orange juice and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 6-8 minutes or until rhubarb is tender. Cool slightly., Process rhubarb mixture in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate, covered, until cold., Just before serving, in a small bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. In parfait glasses, alternately layer whipped cream, berries and rhubarb mixture.

RHUBARB FOOL WITH CONFIT RHUBARB & PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a roasting tin and arrange the rhubarb in a single layer. Scatter over the sugar, cardamom, blood orange zest and juice, and the lemon juice. Cover and roast for 20 mins. Remove from the oven, uncover and leave to cool in its syrup.
• Scoop out and discard the cardamom pods, then use a slotted spoon to transfer half the rhubarb into the bowl of a food processor. Add a couple of spoonfuls of the syrup and blitz to a purée.
• Combine the purée with the condensed milk and a pinch of salt. Stir in the ginger. Whip the cream to medium peaks in a bowl, then carefully fold in the rhubarb mix.
• Spoon the mousse into glasses and chill for a few hrs or overnight until set. Top with the remaining rhubarb, along with its syrup and scatter over the pistachios.