For this month’s tigress can jam, our choices were rhubarb or asparagus. I’ll be honest, neither one of these options appealed to me. However, rhubarb seemed to be the lesser of two evils, so I opted to try my hand at making Rhubarb Jam.
Well, little did I know it but it’s next to impossible to find rhubarb here in May. I went to three Farmer’s Markets and several grocery stores looking for it. I even posted about it on Facebook to see if anyone knew of a place that had it. Basically what I found out is if I want to get fresh rhubarb, I need to look for it in April not May.
So, I toyed with the idea of making some pickled asparagus. I found asparagus in a couple of stores, but I just couldn’t bring myself to buy it. I had asked several of my friends and family if they would try it if I made it, but I didn’t get any takers. The recipe I found made a bunch so I didn’t want to get stuck with 6 to 8 jars of pickled asparagus. I know the idea behind this challenge is to challenge yourself, but I couldn’t bring myself to make 6 jars of something I knew wouldn’t get eaten and I couldn’t even give it away.
So, instead of skipping this month’s challenge, I opted for the next best thing …
I got some frozen Rhubarb. Several friends on Facebook mentioned that they had used frozen Rhubarb and it had worked really well so I decided to go that route.
I know what you’re thinking, “frozen rhubarb is not local!” Well guess what! Neither was the asparagus. I checked. So there! 🙂
Moving right along…
After all of that running around, it was finally time to make the jam and guess what? I like it!
Hey! I am in Atlanta too and I had the exact same experience. Went to YDFM and they said “No Rhubarb” and I was all like HUH? You can buy anything at YDKFM.
I have the frozen stuff in my freeze right now and I have to get something done today.
Wish me luck!
Yep! The employees at the DeKalb Farmer’s Market looked at me like I had lost my mind when I asked for rhubarb. Lol… I have but that’s another story altogether.
Good luck! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I’m sure it will be good.
I guess, Atlanta is not the best place to get rhubarb, is it? Think it’s too hot for rhubarb there. Anyway, glad you liked the result. I do LOVE asparagus, but hate pickles, and stepped out of my comfort zone for the can jam – but I still don’t like it and I don’t know anyone who wants to take the 1 jar of pickled asparagus now. It really hurts to think about the amount of yummy asparagus I wasted on the recipe (I’m happy I made only a half batch!!!).