Grandmas Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble

Grandmas Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble is the perfect balance of tart and sweet! The rhubarb is tender and still has a little bit of sour bite. And the cinnamon crumble on top…don’t even get me started!

This recipe is an adaption of my Dad’s mother’s recipe for rhubarb crumble. All I did was throw some raspberries into the mix, because you just don’t mess with perfect. And this crumble is perfect!

Family legend has it that the rhubarb Grandma Farr grew in the back yard was the best rhubarb anyone has ever tasted. It is hard to imagine this crumble being any more delicious!

Grandma Farr also knew a little something about crumbles because this crumble topping is PERFECT! It is the best crumble topping that I’ve ever had. Without doubt, my new go-to. It is sweet and crumbly but still tender, and there is the perfect hint of cinnamon!

AND there is a generous portion of topping. Is there anything worse than getting a scoop of Crumble sans crumble?

No, no there is not.

Raise your hand if you are a crumble topping pilferer; stealing the rightful topping of the surrounding pieces.

There is no shame in our game.

Crumble lovers unite!
I wonder if my dad is a Crumble Lover. If I had to bet, I would guess he is a lover of the fruity part underneath. He probably wouldn’t mind if I pilfered some of his crumble…

But I guess I shouldn’t do that because I made Grandma’s Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble for him. He is the only person I know that speaks of rhubarb with reverence. And now I know why, because this crumble is delicious!
You know what they say about dad’s infinite wisdom…it’s totally true.
It magically spans all topics. {How do that do that?!!?}
My dad’s unsolicited advice is generally dished out in one liners and, what I like to call, “Dad-isms”.

“Eat your broccoli, Lindsey; it’ll put hair on your chest.”
{Lindsey gives Dad a confused look} “I don’t want hair on my chest.”
{Silence}
“Cool. I’ll eat my broccoli. Pass the bbq sauce, please.”

Dad taught me that too: BBQ sauce makes everything taste awesome. Fact.

“Nothing is as important as a firm handshake and good eye-contact.” True that. I have a handshake to remember. Thank you, Dad.

He used to draw little smiley faces on my speeches to remind me to smile and write little supportive notes at the top. I still draw a smiley face on my presentation notes; not because I need to be reminded to smile, but because the memory of him makes me smile and relaxes me.

There are many more little lessons that my dad has taught me over the years, but the best ones, the ones that have made a lasting impression on my adult life, no matter what my career, have been the inadvertent lessons.
These are the lessons that are taught by example; those not delivered directly, but by actions instead.

I find myself emulating his presence in a crowd, his tireless determination to achieve new heights in his career, his unique style of leadership, and his ability to instantaneously adapt his attitude to the situation.

Even though we have chosen very different paths in life, he has shown me that nothing replaces hard-work, determination, and persistence in the pursuit of success. I have never seen him give up. Not ever. And that is a powerful thing.

Growing up, whenever I complained that something was too hot to hold, or too heavy, or about anything really, he told me, “These are Tough-Lessons. Just keep going.”

I see now that he was telling me that being a girl is no excuse for being weak.

No single life lesson or college degree could have better prepared me for working in a professional kitchen. His “Tough-Lessons” were the greatest gift he ever gave me because when I have burns up my arms, the humid heat of the summer kitchen is so oppressive its hard to breathe, the chef is shouting at me to move faster, my feet and hands are cramping, sweat is pouring into my eyes, and I think I just can’t take any more, I remember that I am tougher than this.
My Dad taught me to be tougher than this.

Thank you, Dad, for always being willing to give me advice, for “dad-isms”, for being a man that I can depend on and model myself after, for all the love, for the smiley faces, for supporting my decisions even when you don’t really understand why, for the daily emojis that make me smile, and for the Tough-Lessons. I would not be the strong, independent, driven, passionate woman I am today without you.
I love you more than words (and emojis) can express. Happy Father’s Day!

And with that I leave you with Grandma’s Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble, aka the most delicious crumble you will ever taste. Dad was right again.

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