Rhubarb

I came home this afternoon with an excitement most women would have after a day long shoe shopping spree. Only instead of hundreds of dollars worth of shoe boxes I carried a $3 bag of skinny green and pink stalks some people mow down with the first grass. I couldn't wait to get my precious bounty in the kitchen. Rhubarb, something I anticipate every spring since I was a little girl and my best friend gave me my first lip puckering bite. As far as I'm concerned the true taste of summer. I kick myself every year for not planting it, every year vowing I will and every year not.

After having combed the farmers market and local produce shop this weekend I found only a few gross, slimy stalks that weren't worth the effort it would take to clean and salvage them. And then, at long last, I was promised the first of this years spring crop from a sweet friend. Today a 3 pound bag of sour deliciousness, now the possibilities are endless. I cleaned, chopped and tucked them away waiting for the timeless combination of strawberries, coming into season in just a week or two. But tonight we will have rhubarb-blueberry turnovers with a cream cheese crust- mmmm!!