RHUBARB SLUSH

     Yes, yes, I know.  After July 4th you should not cut rhubarb and let the plants regenerate.  But really....

Do these plants look like they're suffering?  This is just half of my rhubarb.

---

I've done the rhubarb compotes, the rhubarb pies, the rhubarb upside-down cakes, so when my friend Kathy stopped by last week for dinner and told me about the rhubarb slush she drank at a wedding, I thought... this is it!  I'm going into rhubarb slush production!  I searched the web looking for recipes, and there were hundreds; the majority of which included strawberry jello.  I chose to leave that ingredient out of my slush.  What we drank out on the patio last night was very, very good; just what I hoped for, and even tho' we enjoyed a beautifully cool evening, this is a refreshing drink that is perfect for a hot summer day.  If you are inundated with rhubarb, I suggest you go into slush production as well.  Sit outdoors with family and friends and enjoy!

                                     RHUBARBSLUSH

8 cups rhubarb, diced
1 pound organic strawberries, halved
5 cups water
3/4 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 cups sugar
8 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 cups vodka
1 cup rhubarb compote, optional

Combine rhubarb, strawberries, water, lemon juice and sugar in a large pot and simmer until rhubarb is tender.  Drain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pushing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible.  Discard solids.  Return liquid to the pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.  Cool, then stir in lemonade concentrate and vodka.  Pour the slush into a freezer-proof container and freeze.  The mixuture will not freeze solid because of the vodka.  I stirred a cup of rhubarb compote into the slush mixture and I highly recommend that or possibly mashing up fresh strawberries and stirring that into the slush, but it's totally optional....  Scoop slush into large glasses and top off with soda of your choice.  I used Key Lime Soda from Whole Foods.