Recipe: Honey-Lime Fruit Salad Smoothie

April is here, which means that it’s officially been seven months since the sweet, succulent fruits of summer filled my kitchen. I’ve been eating apples since September, citrus season has now faded (farewell, clementines), and the few peaches and plums that recently surfaced in the produce section are most definitely not in season.

While pining for that classic summer salad of fruits and berries tossed in honey and lime, I dreamed up this April-friendly smoothie: sweet, tropical, and so easy.

I can’t look at a pineapple without envisioning summer and palm trees, but pineapples actually hit peak season in April and May. This makes pineapple my official fruit for desperate post-winter, pre-summer days. April is also the month in which ripe strawberries start appearing, ruby-hued and juicy.

In addition to the obvious psychological benefits of finally tasting summer again, pineapple, strawberries, and lime are all high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can help keep your health high during those last rainy days of spring. The wholesome sweetness of this smoothie makes it a great alternative for highly-processed desserts: simply toss the six ingredients into the blender, purée for a few seconds, and savor slowly. This serves two — that is, unless you’re really desperate and can’t bear to share.