Rhubarb and Apple Pie Recipe: Tangy Fruit Pie with Flaky Crust

This may be the best pie I’ve ever made. I don’t say that lightly—last year I insisted I wasn’t a pie person. After this rhubarb apple pie with ginger and lemongrass, I ate my words, slice by delicious slice, and changed my mind. The balance of tart rhubarb and sweet apples, brightened by fresh ginger and lemongrass, is irresistible.

A few weekends ago, amid baking and other chores, I felt a sudden urge to clear out our house. My plan, which was more catharsis than practicality, involved moving almost everything into the garage—nine years’ worth of accumulated things—and only bringing items back when truly needed.

The idea was a reaction to feeling overwhelmed by the clutter around me. A neat pile of folded laundry sits on the dining table more often than the table does. Toys drift out of the playroom and colonize every surface. Paper accumulates—crayon drawings, coupons, receipts, notes. We have clothes to sort for our younger daughter, shoes that no longer fit properly, and other small items that multiply when left in plain sight.

Lately the constant picking up and re-homing has worn on me. The kids are very mobile, which creates a whirlwind of movement: couch cushions become a fortress, fridge magnets end up on the floor, and small seconds away from a task can lead to a minor domestic upheaval. It would be easy to blame them, but clutter appears in parts of the house they never use. My husband is tidy by nature, so the responsibility falls on me—I’m the clutter magnet. Give me a bare surface and I will fill it.

The irony is I’m drawn to simplicity. My Pinterest boards are filled with spare, quiet, monochromatic images that feel calm. I long to live in a space that feels peaceful to the eye and the mind.

Visual clutter affects how I feel. Even without owning a lot, piles on surfaces make me anxious, frustrated, and guilty. The weight of small daily messes becomes heavy. I dream of fewer things and of a home that follows William Morris’ advice: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

I know the purge I imagine won’t happen overnight. Instead I’m starting small and working toward a balance that makes daily life easier and more peaceful. Decluttering is ongoing—an exercise in deciding what truly enhances our lives and what distracts from them.

And the pie? That one stays. This rhubarb apple pie with ginger and lemongrass is a keeper—comforting, bright, and the sort of treat that makes the effort of clearing a countertop worthwhile.

I’m beginning the work of letting go and creating a livable, calm home. It will be gradual, imperfect, and ongoing—but each small step helps. Meanwhile, I’ll keep making pies that bring joy to the table.

Start the work now, I tell myself. There’s a lot to let go of. But this pie? Absolutely a keeper.

📖 Recipe

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