{strawberry & rhubarb crumble}

i had my family over for dinner and dessert yesterday to celebrate mother's day.

we usually hang out at my parents' house when we get together,
so it was fun to mix it up and have everyone at our place.

i was reminded what a pleasure it is to host dinner and that i need to do it more often.

i was also reminded how much fun it is to bake!

i haven't been doing much of it lately, partly because i don't want to
make available extra calories/fat for joel and i to consume.

but after taking one bite of the strawberry & rhubarb crumble,

i knew that baking would be making a comeback in the Lane residence.

it was soooo ridiculously delicious.

just the right amount of sweetness and tartness,
just the right contrast of textures.

i think it is my new favorite dessert.  it's simply perfect for summertime.

and the smell when you open the oven to take it out...
absolutely divine.

wondering what those little specks in the sugar are? 

they are real vanilla beans! i bought some vanilla beans several months ago when they were on sale at the grocery, and i was so excited to finally have the chance to use them.

they really enhanced the flavor of this dish. 

and they smelt heavenly!

rhubarb is such a strange looking fruit (vegetable?)! this was the first time i baked with rhubarb.

in fact, it was even the first time i tried it!

i don't think i could eat it on its own, but i loved the tartness of it paired with the strawberries.

and her you have the final product (it went reallll fast).
i topped each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, of course.

when my mom took a bite, she said it brought her back to her childhood.
apparently my grandma used to make rhubarb & strawberry pie all the time.

i thought that was really neat... it's amazing how food can cause you to relive
warm memories and give you a sense of comfort.

interested it trying this deliciousness for yourself? you can find the recipe on bon appetit's website.
i'm thinking their website may become my new go-to for recipes!