Asparagus tends to get the spotlight in early to late spring because it’s one of the first fresh vegetables to make an appearance after the doldrums of winter.

But now that it’s May, another long green stalk is ready for its close-up. This one, however, isn’t as tender as asparagus, and you probably don’t want to eat it out of hand raw unless you love food that causes your face to pucker.

Now is the time when long, vibrant stalks of rhubarb arrive in local markets (it can grow up to 3 feet tall), thrilling cooks and bakers with its unique, tart flavor and endless possibilities.

I grew up eating rhubarb in an oatmeal-based crisp sweetened with strawberries, as my mom was pretty old-school when it came to desserts. A couple years ago, I even got a plant of my own from my green-thumbed old

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