Picnic Time.. Rhubarb Pie

Picnic season has begun.  It starts with beautiful weather and delicious pies.  Rhubarb pie is one of my all time favorite pies that my great Aunt would make.  It was simple and to the point, rhubarb topped with meringue.  No need for strawberries in this pie.  I tried to find a recipe that embodied her dessert, and the crowd agreed, this recipe was a keeper.

Rhubarb is in full harvest in May.  Stock up and prepare yourself for many pies and other delicious rhubarb flavored sauces and drinks.  This variety of rhubarb stays greener.  Other varieties get beautiful shades of red.

This pie is simple.  It starts off with a tart pastry base.  Flour, margarine, and confectioners sugar mixed into a ball and pressed into the bottom of the pie pan.  Pop in the oven to get golden before filling.  It is much easier and faster than making a pie crust base, which could also be done. (But I haven't masters the art of the pie crust.. yet.)

Fresh rhubarb chopped up.

A custard base which includes sugar, flour, egg yolks, milk and the rhubarb.

Baked down until it thickens into a rhubarb-y deliciousness.

A meringue of egg whites and sugar all whipped up.

Assemble and pop in the oven again to golden up.

And voila! A delicious rhubarb pie good enough for any picnic.  Side note: if theres moisture in the air the meringue will bead up like this.  It adds a fun pattern without any effort!

There's no strawberry in this rhubarb pie.  But don't worry, a strawberry pie was also brought, each delicious on their own!

The recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup margarine

2 tablespoons confectioners sugar

1 1/2 cups white sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 egg yolks

1/3 cup milk

3 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb

3 egg whites

1/4 cup white sugar

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, margarine and the confectioners sugar.  Mix together until it forms a ball.  Press into the bottom and sides of a inch square pan (I used a circle pie pan).  Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

3.  In a saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoon flour, yolks and milk.  Stir together, then add the chopped rhubarb.  Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.  Pour into hot crust.

4.  In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy.  Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.  Spread meringue over rhubarb filling, covering completely.

5.  Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

enjoy and happy picnic season!

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

Design 221.. Modern Eclectic Residence

For my final residential project I created a modern eclectic interior combining industrial, rustic and mid century modern elements.  Soft  hues of grey fill the house creating a warm and inviting interior.  Rustic wood is paired with dark irons and soft leathers.  Layering of textures and materials adds interest and luxury to the entire house.

The first floor, floor plan.  Wood floors mixed with stone floors create rich flooring through out the space.

 A perspective of the family room.  Dark trim is very industrial and modern at the same time and is a nice contrast against the light grey walls.  A painted brick fireplace blends in with warm grey hues.  Layered rugs of sisal and a wool shag rug (some of my great finds at High Point).  Leather and alpaca wool cover the surfaces of the furniture adding comfort and luxury to the family room.

The second floor, floor plan.  The same soft hues in greys and browns cover the floors.  

Elevations of the breakfast nook with reclaimed wood paneling covering the walls.  A grand chandelier created with sea glass hangs above a modern table.  The living room is lined with dark grey walls and a beautiful toucan artwork.

A great mixture of finishes and furniture create interest trough the house.  The look is clean and modern while still being comfy and unique.  I had a great time creating this space.

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

Design 222.. Hotel

You are driving North from Phoenix up Rt 17, surrounded by the heat of the desert, sand and cacti for miles.  

The terrain turns mountainous and the earth turns red.  You are now in Sedona.  Red sandstone formations surround you.  The sun sets and the rocks burst into a vibrant red hue.  The sight is unforgettable.

The Agate Hotel & Resort, just like the red rocks, have depth and interest in every corner.  Mixing textures and materials was important to creating the perfect aura.  Soft hues of red sandstone surround and embrace you as you move from space to space.  I took the silhouette of the rock formations and repeated it through the space.  Walls, vertical panels of wood are seamed together, murals, and patterns in the stone all repeat this rocky line.   Visual interest and comfort were leading forces to creating the Agate Hotel & Resort.

The floor plan shows the varieties of floor materials from a terra cotta pattern in the main lobby to wood flooring in the restaurant and lobby lounge.  Sample images of the beautiful stones I have chosen to be placed throughout the hotel.

A perspective drawing showing the main lobby as you enter the building.  The large cacti sculptures are wrapped in rope.  Terra cotta tiles lead you to the registration desk.

The second board shows lighting, elevations and some furniture.  The lighting is industrial while the rest is very rustic and reminiscent of the South Western flare.

I created this brick wall covered with plaster, rustic and chipping away.  Layered with various cacti and tropical plants and some red leather chairs.

For the bar I started with a brick wall, layered it with steel shelving that reflects the red rock formations, and surrounded it with vertical wood paneling.  The restaurant and bar area are very warm and intimate.  Rustic meets industrial.

I had a great time with this project, didn't hold back any creativity.  I let the red rocks take over and designs flowed out.  Like I always say, "go big or go home."

Be Inspired.  Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

Design 200

With the semester coming to an end, all my projects are coming together.  I went back to the basics and had to brush up on my drafting skills.  Once I blew off the dust, I got comfortable and I got creative.  Since these are my last projects, I didn't t hold anything back.  I let the creative juices flow and didn't hold back any imagination. It's hard to see my complete vision from just a black and white floor plan, but more is to come.

In my residential class we were given a blank floor plan and we had to design and furnish the entire house, focusing on a couple rooms and the kitchen.  My trip to High Point Market greatly helped focus my vision for the house.  I was able to create a great resource library with all the vendors and resources discovered at the market.  

Without looking at colors and furniture but just looking at the floor plan, I kept the plan open and organized. I love symmetry and right angles so for the most part the furniture is lined up and squared off. Later you will see how played with the layering of textures and materials.  I kept the interior warm and inviting with tones of grey.

The kitchen was a good challenge for me.  I found some clean lined and simple cabinets to use and the rest was a big puzzle to see what cabinets went were.

One thing I changed about the kitchen was opening up the window. One of my favorite things is to stand at the sink and stare out the window, makes washing dishes much more exciting.

For my commercial porject we were given a floor plan for a hotel. It was completely empty and we had to fill the space with all the appropriate spaces and areas.  Once I laid out the general flow and blocked out areas, I placed all the furniture, then the fun part, designing the floor pattern.  I love defining spaces with floor patterns.  It's a challenge to create something unique while not being too overwhelming.   Choice of material and color play a huge role in creating the perfect atmosphere.

I couldn't help myself.  In the restaurant I just had to create this great bar.  Inspired by industrial design I started with a brick wall to define the space of the bar.  Rod iron lays the grid work that is the shelving for all the bottles and glasses.  The bar is then surrounded with vertical planks of wood.

An overlay shows the bar stools, lighting and signage.

Still to come.. the rendering of all these floor plans and elevations.  Perspective drawings of a couple of areas to really give the complete feel when you walk into the space.  With colors and materials the spaces will come together and my point of view will be conveyed.  Stay tuned!

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca