Rhubarb has always reminded me of blushing celery, even though the two are not related.

Celery only comes in one color, but rhubarb has an entire collection of lipstick shades. Besides soft pale pink, rhubarb’s long stalks can range in color from light green to vibrant magenta.

This springtime vegetable (yes, it’s a veggie, not a fruit) has a make-you-pucker tartness, so it’s usually gussied up with sugar or spices. Most rhubarb-based recipes lean toward the sweeter side. Strawberries pair beautifully with rhubarb. You can sub rhubarb for up to half of the strawberries in many recipes, but you’ll need to bump-up the amount of sweetener.

Rhubarb’s tartness also works with savory dishes. I like to simmer it until very tender, add a touch of sugar and use it as a marinade for pork tenderloin or chicken.

It’s not always necessary, but sometimes I “string” my rhubarb to get rid of particularly thick and tough fibers. I use my vegetable peeler to peel down the length of the stalk (a paring knife works just as well).

Oh, and one good-to-know tip: the stalks of the rhubarb are the only edible part… the leaves are poisonous. They won’t kill you, but they can cause real stomach distress. And even though you’re going to cut them off and throw them away, rhubarb leaves should be green and fresh looking, not wilted or brown.

Rhubarb is in season right this minute. I’ve pulled together a few Rhubarb Rules to consider so you’ll know how to pick perfect rhubarb every time!

The kids are on vacation but, hey, guess what? You’re not!

Big and little people still need to be fed, so why not make something quick and easy that can be thrown on the grill or in the oven like these Island Chicken Drumsticks?

Here’s what you do:

1. Buy one of those 12-packs of chicken legs (or more if you’re feeling particularly ambitious).
2. Prepare the dry rub from spices you probably already have in your pantry. You don’t need to follow my recipe… use what you have!
3. Heat up the grill or oven and in 20 minutes dinner will be ready.

If you DO make extra drummies, you’ll have something to feed the hungry horde for lunch tomorrow or a picnic dinner the day AFTER tomorrow. Perfect. Easy. Just like summer should be!

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Here’s a great summertime dish you can “cook” without turning on the oven: Ceviche.

Ceviche (also known as cebiche, sebiche or seviche) is a Latin American dish made with raw fish that is marinated in citrus juice, herbs and spices until the translucent flesh turns opaque and becomes firm.

In Peru (where many people believe this dish originated), tangy ceviche is traditionally eaten in the morning as an eye-opener (read that: hangover cure). Its ingredients are pretty simple: bitter orange juice, onions and thinly sliced hot peppers, like aji amarillo.

I prefer to make my ceviche the Mexican way, with lime juice, cilantro, jalapeños and a little garlic. I serve it on top of fresh crunchy greens. The taste is so fresh and healthy it’s one of my feel-good meals. It’s very easy to learn how to make ceviche!

A few ceviche tips:

• Buy fresh firm-fleshed ocean fish like halibut, grouper, flounder or red snapper that won’t fall apart in the marinade.
• Marinade until the fish loses its translucency, or for about 4-hours.
• Soak the onions for a little bit to take the “bite” out, so they don’t step on the other flavors.
• Remove the seeds and veins from the chili peppers to control the heat.

Funny how the thought of eating raw fish doesn’t sound as absurd as it did a decade ago because, for many of us, sushi and sashimi have become a regular part of our diets!

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Here’s your ticket to Cuba: Mojo marinade.  (Pronounced, Mo-HO, not Mo-JOE!)

Mojito sauce, as it is called on the island, is bright and intriguing with strong, complex flavors… just like Cuba. Seville oranges, also known as bitter oranges, are the marinade’s “secret” ingredient.

These oranges grow everywhere across Cuba and the Caribbean (and in southern Spain!), but they’re often hard to find elsewhere. My recipe offers a great substitution.

Mojo’s citrus base pairs naturally with fish, shellfish, chicken, pork or vegetables. Heck, I even use it as a salad dressing because I love the tart taste. It also offers an unexpected twist for a grilling marinade.

I’ve included oil in this recipe, but if you’re marinating a pork roast, you really don’t need it… the pig’s got enough fat on its own! This recipe can be doubled. Or tripled.

So here’s your trip to Cuba… without packing a bag!

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Rolled Pork Roast Marinated in Mojo