We see cars at rush hour pull off the road, so drivers can help themselves to the heavy branches of fruit- laden trees that reach out over their fences. We see kids with baskets lined up along the swale in older neighborhoods hocking their backyard mangos. We even saw a lady in a bikini and sunglasses, reading a novel on a lawn chair in the back of her pick up truck parked on a busy corner. She had a big ol' sign made of cardboard that said MANGOS 3 for $1.
My kids and I find fallen ones when we go on bike rides and walks. We have taken to turning them over to check if squirrels (or the squirrels of the night, rats) have nibbled them, or if bugs have bored their way in through the thin colorful skins to have a party inside. Everyone around here loves mangos, human and otherwise, so finding them still on the tree where we can reach is less likely if its in a "publicly accessible" place, and unless you're lucky enough to find a freshly fallen one, chances are creatures have found it first, or its already so fermented and stinky from the South Florida summer that it pops in your hand like a slimy water balloon when you try to pick it up!
We found a really perfect one on our bikeride the other day and my daughter, who still rides in a seat on my bike, toted it around like her baby for the rest of the journey. Once we got home, our neighbors (who's trees you can see in my previous post) delivered a bag full of gorgeous fresh picked mangos from their yard. It's the best thing (and the only thing, actually) that's entered our home in a plastic Walmart bag in a very long time!
Mangos are truly lovely in my opinion. These were red, pink, orange and green speckled with little black spots, meaning they are ready to eat right this minute! And that is no exaggeration. In fact, I, radical lover of food and local produce, am ashamed to admit that several of the last mangos that were given to us met their fate in our compost heap. I just didn't get to them fast enough. That would NOT happen to these beauties!
When my neighbor asked (via facebook flair of a mango-selling lady with a huge hairdo and earrings to match) if I wanted some, I promised to make some mango sorbet in return ( but only if she wore the hairdo and earrings). So I got promptly to work. Sounds pretty industrious, but besides gooey, juice covered hands, and the right kitchen gadgets, there isn't much effort involved for this summer delight! Here's how to make it:
3 good sized ripe mangos
good, local honey (about 1/4 - 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup lemon or lime juice, fresh is best, but bottled works fine
fresh grated ginger to taste (about 1 teaspoon)
Cut and cube the mangos and toss in the blender. This is actually quite easy to do, and there are so many videos showing how on youtube that I couldn't even choose one to post here. I don't like to waste anything so I peel the seed and squeeze all the extra flesh and juice from it right into the blender, hence the gooey hands! Add the other ingredients, tasting to adjust for the ripeness of the mangos, and puree. Pour the puree in to an ice cream machine for about 20 - 30 minutes. Serve and ENJOY!
That's what we did, enjoy it! In fact, the whole neighborhood did. I love to share food, especially with people who appreciate it, so mango sorbet went to the neighbors who brought them to us, and the neighbors across the street. In return we got a little sampling of their dinner, fresh caught fried snapper with stuffed jalapeños and fried mushrooms! Our across the street neighbors have promised to let us try the clams they just brought back from Alaska. I don't
know if clams go well with mango sorbet, but I do love the reciprocation and sharing of summer foods!
Mangos will be around for a while longer, so more sorbet is sure to be on the menu, and probably my friend Elizabeth's Summer Pie recipe, which really calls for peaches. Mangos can be substituted for peaches in all kinds of recipes: cobblers, quick breads, or classic a la mode! But the summer pie is just delightful. Mmmm, I might have to make that one today. Hope the neighbors are home...
::kristin::
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