Rhubarb Crisp Bars

I made this Smitten Kitchen recipe with all rhubarb and no strawberries because I do not like cooked strawberries. I only got a picture of it before baking, haha.

Notes:

• I did not use the extra 2 tbsp flour because I was not using strawberries (rhubarb is a lot less juicy).
• I did use the cornstarch.
  

Verdict: They were a little hard to get out of the pan, but they did taste nice and were not soggy. I would definitely consider making these again if I wanted my rhubarb in bar form.

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RECIPE: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp Bars (Smitten Kitchen)

Blackberry, Lavender, and White Chocolate Scones

A visiting friend (it feels so nice to say that) left me some blackberries, my neighbor brought me some lavender from her garden, and after making matcha chocolate covered strawberries I had a bunch of white chocolate left in my pantry. Enter these scones.

Notes:

• I did not put the glaze on top, but in hindsight I think I would have liked it for a little more sweetness.
  
• The dough was a bit wet for a scone and a little hard to shape, but it ended up working out.
• I made my own buttermilk (1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar + enough milk to make 1 cup, mix and let stand for 10 min to thicken slightly).

Verdict: They were surprisingly good! If I make them again would put more lavender in next time, and maybe add some lemon zest, and add the glaze that was in the original recipe.

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RECIPE: Blackberry, Lavender, and White Chocolate Scones (Half Baked Harvest)

Fruit Pizza

A friend left us a block of cream cheese and thought this would be the perfect thing to make after picking 10 pounds of strawberries. We used to make fruit pizza sometimes when I was a kid but it had been a long time since I'd had it. It's a giant sugar cookie frosted with cream cheese frosting, then topped with any kind of fresh fruit you like.

Notes:

• You can make it on a sheet pan (like I did) if you don't have a pizza pan.
• You can use whatever fresh fruit you like; I used all strawberries because it was what I had.

Verdict: Just as good as I remember from when I was a kid. A 12-inch round seems like a lot but it was way easier to finish than I expected. This would be a really good thing to bring to parties since it doesn't keep especially well. I would definitely make this again, especially for a summer party.

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RECIPE: Fruit Pizza (Sally's Baking Addiction)

Red Wine Vinaigrette

Looking for a good basic red wine vinaigrette for vegetable salads. I made it exactly as written, scaled down to half.

Verdict: This one is just what I was looking for.

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RECIPE: Red Wine Vinaigrette (Culinary Hill)