Now here’s a day I can get behind! Did you realize its officially National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day!? And I just so happen to have my very own rhubarb and strawberry patches at home. In fact, all of my small gardens have perennials, including a raspberry bush and a newly planted asparagus patch.

Welcome to My Strawberry Patch (Video)

So, here’s the deal. How does mixing a super sour VEGETABLE and one of the sweetest fruits around create such an awesome combo. Don’t know. Don’t care. It’s never around long enough to think about anything other than the taste, but today I’ll try. FOR SCIENCE (and not my stomach).

Fresh from the patch at my house
Fresh from the patch at my house
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Around the country, rhubarb is a perennial favorite for home gardens. One of the first “fruits” of their labors, gardeners begin to harvest rhubarb in the middle of May and early June, and it finds its way into desserts and preserves. Since it takes on the flavor of the fruit or vegetable it is paired with, it is an excellent complement to many recipes.

Not only is rhubarb known for making delicious baked goods from the garden early in the season. It has some other unique qualities. Apparently, you can rub a cut stalk of rhubarb over a burnt skillet and let the high oxalic acid content do the work instead of a scratcher pad. In fact, it has been a primary ingredient in many cleaners for over 100 years.

My rhubarb patch has really taken off and I added 2 more plants this year.
My rhubarb patch has really taken off and I added 2 more plants this year.
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Did you know, rhubarb is so high in oxalic acid that the leaves are toxic to humans. The stalks, however, are an edible and healthy source of oxalic acid. The benefits of enjoying rhubarb could help reduce blood pressure, increase your body’s ability to burn fat, and generate brain myelin. Time to get scientific-y; Myelin is the insulating layer, or cover, that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances and allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. Now, there’s a reason to celebrate National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day if I ever heard one!

Yes, my wife made this. No, you can't have any.
Yes, my wife made this. No, you can't have any.
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You can find a recipe to try out here! I, however, happen to be a pretty lucky guy. Oh no, I’m no baker, but my wife… Let’s just say she has this baking thing figured out; like these faux pies below.

KEEP READING: 3-ingredient recipes you can make right now

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