Strawberry Rhubarb Salsa

...plus, How to Paint a Tulip!

upcoming classes + retreats

• 4 spots left for the France retreat!

• Paint with me in Madison 5/30

• My 5-week summer online painting course with Stanford

Hi, friends!

Last week, someone on my neighborhood listserv posted that their garden was overflowing with rhubarb and offered some to anyone who wanted it. Yes, please! I walked over and was delighted to meet Barb who grew the rhubarb in her front yard. We got to chat gardening for a few minutes and then she gifted me a bundle of 8 stalks. She asked what I planned to make. I wasn’t sure!

I thought about it for a few days…a cake, bread, pie or tart seemed the obvious answer. Smitten Kitchen’s gorgeous picnic bars were quite tempting.

But I’m not much of a baker, so I decided to go savory. I had a hunch rhubarb might be a welcome addition in my Strawberry Salsa recipe (The Forest Feast, page 37). And indeed — the combo was springy magic made in taco heaven! Tangy, tart, crunchy and sweet, it was great with chips and also a fun topping for taco night. Highly recommend!

Strawberry Rhubarb Salsa

Serves 2-4

• 1/2 c diced rhubarb (1-2 stalks)

• 1/2 c diced strawberries

• 3/4 c diced tomato

• 1/4 c diced red onion

• 1/4 c chopped cilantro

• a squeeze of lime

• finely diced jalapeno (optional)

• pinch of salt

Toss all ingredients and enjoy!

How to Paint a Tulip

Is there anything better than visiting a flower farm in full bloom?! It feels like physical immersion in color. Look for one near you!

On my recent trip to Kohler, I visited Flora Fields which was bursting with tulips. They have watercolor supplies available for visitors and it was so fun to sit in the field and paint flowers. Such a calming and meditative way to enjoy spring outdoors!

Here’s my simple 30-sec video tutorial for painting a tulip, and a step-by-step below:

1. with red, paint a football/almond shape and don’t fill it in completely

2. add petals on either side

3. while it’s still wet, dot in a touch of yellow paint and let them bleed together

4. grab some green paint and using just the tip (hold your brush perpendicular to the page) paint a thing stem

5. get more green paint then starting at the bottom of the stem, brush upwards for the leaves — applying more pressure in the middle to make it wider

6. lift up at the end to achieve a pointy leaf tip

Now I’m off to make challah for Shabbat. Happy cooking and happy painting!

xx

Erin

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