Along with some of our early CSA deliveries, we got rhubarb. My first thought was a classic one: pie. But I have to be honest: the idea of warm pie in this weather was kind of making me feel ill. I was craving something cool and definitely anything that wasn’t pie.

I came across a recipe for a strawberry rhubarb pie smoothie, and that was it for me! I did a little Nicole-style dismantling of the recipe and I thought it was really wonderful. From a nutritional perspective, this is actually fairly low in calories (I could do the math for you later), low on the glycemic index and tastes sinful. You won’t regret making this, I promise. (Side note #1 about the photos: rhubarb is not photogenic. I tied a bow to it, to sort of pretty it up. Just for you.)

Here’s what you do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2 large stalks of rhubarb, cut into one inch pieces

1 tbsp honey

1/3 cup Riesling (I used Pacific Rim Organic, which is my hands-down favorite)

1 vanilla bean scraped

13 strawberries, hulled

1/4 cup almond milk

juice of 1/2 a lemon

1/4 cup oats

1 tbsp almond meal

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp maple syrup

2 tsp powdered sugar

Combine the first 4 ingredients and place into a glass dish. Cook for 15 minutes. The rhubarb will be very soft. Let cool. While rhubarb is cooking, combine remaining ingredients and let sit, so the oats have time to soften (makes for easier digestion). When rhubarb and wine mixture is cool, combine with strawberry and oats mixture and blend until smooth. I just plunked all of mine in my Magic Bullet and it all fit (I kind of thought it might not, but it’s very spacious). Makes 2 servings, if you can bear to share it.

Last year we got a lot of kale, particularly because my daughters and the nanny were doing our pick up and my 9-year-old loves kale so I had to find new uses.

Wash the kale and remove the vein as soon as you get them then pat dry and freeze flat (best with dino kale). Then any time you need a meal replacement or substantial snack you can make this smoothie.

• 1 large frozen kale leaf
• Fruit either fresh or frozen (a great use of berries about to turn): blueberries, strawberries, frozen mango, banana if you like a milder taste
• 1- tablespoons of spirulena (for protein if using as meal replacement)
• 1-2 table spoons of wheat germ

Blend all of above ingredients with enough liquid to make a thick shake like consistency. I use either: water, OJ, or yogurt

Drink in an opaque glass as it tastes good but has some color issues. The kale gives it a little chew or just seems to make it more substantial. I know it sounds a little gross but it is a yummy healthy way to extend the useful life of your farm share.