Rhubarb Bellinis, To Love and To Cherish

My husband and I got married during rhubarb season, and as our anniversary approaches, rhubarb seems a fitting ingredient to celebrate our marriage. The rhubarb plant is a hardy one, but requires space, patience, and a cooler climate to flourish. Awaiting harvest season can seem like an eternity, but given time to grow roots throughout the colder months and extend its reach under ample direct sunshine, the harvest is often abundant. The subtle sweetness and tenderness of rhubarb reveals itself over time and effort, through slow cooking to melt the fibrous stalks into a soft and delectable richness. Combine rhubarb with extra doses of sweetness, and it achieves an even more delightful balance of flavor. Get a little bubbly with it, and it sparkles. Here’s a toast to our marriage, which gets sweeter and richer and more tender over time.

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Citrus & Mint Hibiscus Iced Tea

I was lucky enough to spend a rainy afternoon in good company sampling teas from all over the world at Steven Smith Teamaker in Portland, Oregon, a couple years ago. I came away with a clear favorite — Big Hibiscus — for its ruby red color, its slight tartness, its unexpected splash of fruity flavor, and the way it made me feel at peace while I sipped it.