The warmer temperature lately has been a lovely welcome to June. It seems like May literally flew by. I can’t even remember what has happened this month. A long weekend getaway, we listed our house, I’ve been out of school for about a month now. Maybe the fact that I don’t have to keep track of what day it is helped the month slip by.

Speaking of our house, we officially accepted an offer. We listed it at the beginning of May, and last weekend we accepted an offer. We were really happy with the price we’ve set it at, and we’re happy to get very close to it. At first they wanted to move in, in two weeks! Um, hello, not happening. First of all, it’s a very important week coming up, well day really. My birthday, it’s next Tuesday. And then, the week after that is my official grad ceremony, and of course graduation party. So, there was no way I was moving and packing up our condo in two weeks while all that was happening as well. When we countered we extended the date for the end of the month, June 25th. That was better situated for us. So, as of Wednesday next week we will know for sure if we have sold, once the subjects are removed. We are both quite happy that it went so fast, only four showings, so we can rest assured we (read: Adam) won’t be stuck with two mortgages come November 😉 . For the interim we will be staying at my Moms, thankfully they have a big house with lots of room, and Adam’s parents for the 5 months before we officially move into the new house.

The day we accepted the offer, I also went for my graduation photos. It didn’t seem real until I placed the cap on my head, and donned the official gown. It brought me back to my grade 12 graduation, as the photos were taken at the same photography studio. But, it’s real! I’ve confirmed my attendance at my convocation ceremony, and rented my gown. As if I haven’t paid the university enough money, I had to pay to rent a gown for a couple hours, on a time limit, to attend my grad ceremony. Oh well, it will only happen once! I’m not sure if there is a grad ceremony for when I finish my teaching program next year or not. My mom has also planned a party to celebrate with our friends and family that I’m looking forward to. I think 6 years of university deserves some acknowledgement, and a few drinks.

Something that has also been happening this month, the appearance of fruit. It’s the cusp of the fruit season and everything is growing bursting through the ground. A few weeks ago I posted a photo of a giant rhubarb plant at Adam’s parent’s home. Rhubarb is technically a vegetable, but it is more often found in sweet dessert recipes than savoury. His mom needed to pick the very large, towing plant and gave me some to bring home, as long as I baked her something with it of course 😉 One of my favourite combinations is strawberry-rhubarb. Delicious in a pie, hand pie, or as individual galette’s like I’ve done here. We had Adam’s family over for dinner, his mom and dad, sister, brother-in-law, and our sweet little niece, so I thought I would made a small galette for each person.

You can really sub any fruit for the filling, blackberry, blueberry, apple, peach, peach-blackberry, apple-strawberry, etc etc. So many fruit combinations.

Individual Strawberry Rhubarb Galettes
Adapted from: Martha Stewart’s Pies & Tarts

Pâte Brisée

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

1. Pulse flour and sugar in a food processor (or whisk together by hand in bowl). Add butter, and pulse, or use pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal, with some larger pieces remaining. Drizzle 1/4 cup water over mixture, pulse (or mix with fork), until the mixture begins to hold together. If it seems too dry, add another 1/4 cup of water, 1 tbs. at a time and pulse again.

2. Turn out onto counter, and wrap in plastic wrap tightly, chilling for about one hour, or overnight.

Galettes

• Chilled Pâte Brisée
• 1 1/2 pounds trimmed rhubarb, cut into 1/4 inch pieces (about 5 cups)
• 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups granulated sugar

1. Divide dough evenly into 8 pieces ( I made 6 slightly larger ones ). On a lightly floured surface roll out each piece into a 7 inch round, 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets. arranging several inches apart.

2. In large bowl, combine rhubarb, strawberries, cornstarch and sugar.

3. Cover each round of dough with a heaping 1/2 cup mixture, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold the edges over the filing, leaving the opening in the center. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until firm.

4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush edges with egg wash, one egg beaten, and sprinkle with sanding sugar. bake until crusts are golden brown about 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees, and bake until juices start to bubble and run from center, about 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven, let cool and transfer to wire rack.

These are also delicious warm from the oven, topped with ice cream. Maybe with the Honey Ice Cream from last week!