Tasty "Therapy"

As you regular visitors know, Aunt Julie--The Pop'r Queen--bakes quite a bit. She regards this kind of nesting as a "tasty therapy," which helps to brighten her day, along with those of Uncle Lynn (you all know him as The Pop'r King) and the rest of her brood.

Last week, Aunt Julie dropped a delightful Blueberry Pie recipe on us. Today, she reached into her Secret Recipe Box and pulled out an index card for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Uncle Lynn's on his way home from Talking Pop'rs at the International Food Technology get-together in New Orleans. Anyone who Snaps, Crackles or Pops in the food industry was at the IFT Fest, including The Popr King, promoting his home-grown company with the able assistance of two of his sons, who help run the family business.

This yummy pie combines a fruit and a vegetable that are both in season. Won't Uncle Lynn and the boys be pleased when they get home? Aunt Julie's happy to share, so enjoy!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
2 cups cut up strawberries (Julie uses more!)
2 cups cut up rhubarb (Julie uses more!)
1 1/3 to 1 ½ cups sugar
1/3 cup flour

Heat over to 425 degrees. Prepare pastry. (Auntie J's secret? "Unrolling a Pillsbury crust, and thanking God that I don’t have to make my own!") Mix sugar and flour, and then gently mix these ingredients with the strawberries and rhubarb, to coat them. Obviously, if you'd like more than 2 cups of each fruit/veggie, you should go for it--Aunt Julie does! Turn the mixture into a pastry-lined pie plate. Sprinkle with any remaining sugar/flour mixture. Cover with top crust. Cut slits and sprinkle with sugar. Seal the edges well. Cover the top of the pie foil, 'til the last 15 minutes of baking. Bake 40-50 minutes. Best served warm, with plenty of vanilla ice cream!

Of Deadlines, Blueberry Pie & How to Play With Your Food

Ah, Summertime! Gotta love the long days, the cool (sometimes) nights & the extra time to spend with family & friends.

Because Summer is such a special time, with extra moments to cram between the nooks & crannies of our busy lives, I decided to start a blog. And to inaugurate my latest endeavor, Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King (& my Most Esteemed brother-in-law, BTW) gave me the chance to thank all my Bloggy Friends by running a Contest.

If you tuned in a couple of days ago, you'll know that we launched Giveaway Tuesday #1. The Deadline has been extended to Sunday, so make sure you enter! As Uncle Lewie used to say, "Nothing is free, except when it is." And that's exactly Uncle Lynn's belief. So, make sure you ENTER TODAY! I'd love to win Free Pop'rs myself, except I imagine I'm not eligible. Well, ethics are a good thing, right?

And speaking of eligibility, I tried Aunt Julie's Blueberry Pie recipe. MMMMMMM....GOOD! Blueberry season lasts for a good long while, so hope you take advantage of all Mother Nature has to offer. I can't think of a better way to honor the Bounty of the Season!

One more thing, before I skedaddle. The Pop'r King and two of my nephews are on their way down to New Orleans on a business trip, of sorts. Pop'rs, a family-run company, is exhibiting at a trade show sponsored by The Institute of Food Technologists. As near as I can tell, it's a convention that pulls together the Greatest Minds in Food--including Pop'rs. Uncle Lynn's amazing product is part science & part art; he's one of the leaders in a wave aiming to improve the sensory & nutrition side of the business.

As some of you know, Pop'rs are the ultimate in sensory eating experiences. Uncle Lynn's product actually encourages kids to play with their food. Please enter our Contest to find out why!