M is for Mango.

I don't know how this happened but we somehow ended up with mangoes all over our house recently.

Bags of them, bowls of them, the house smelled like ripe mangoes.

It was awesome......for me anyways.

 Andy remembered a little too late how allergic he is to mango tree sap and licked a bunch of the skins when he was peeling them for me and ended up with a bad allergic reaction all over his face for like a week.  Sorry babe. 

This could basically be an ode to mangoes cause I really do love them, growing up with my VERY Filipino grandparents for awhile it was like an apple to us.  I have fond memories of my Grandpa sitting at his kitchen table watching The Price is Right, chewing on a mango seed & eating rice or fish. 

I also have not so fond memories of my Grandma comparing me to a sack of rice while shopping for a prom dress, but that's just how Filipino she is.  

Both in insults and the fact that, that is what she would choose to compare me to.  

I love mangoes cold, as I do all fruit, room temperature fruit is just not my thing. 

My daughter loves dried mango and my Mom loves Mango-a-Go-Gos from Jamba Juice.

So many happy memories all from a humble fruit, which I also happen to think are one of the prettiest inside and out. I'm eagerly awaiting our trip to the Philippines next year to learn more about my family, cause I know there's more to us than mangoes & mah-jong right? 

So when all these mangoes came around we cut a bunch up to freeze for smoothies or just to eat frozen, so yummy.  I made a batch of Mango Cupcakes with Dulce De Leche frosting for my friend's birthday and this mango salsa.  It was the clear winner of the 3 and I never write up savory [ish] recipes and this is my own creation so I'm pretty proud of it.

This is a really easy recipe, just lots of chopping required but it's great for the Summer.

A little spicy, a little sweet.  Just like my Grandpa Pete.

Piccolo Pete's Mango Salsa

2 Limes

2 Jalapeños

1 red onion

3 mangoes 

[I know, there are 2 in the picture but I ended up using more.  Geez.]

1 small handful cilantro

Sea Salt

[1] Peel and dice mangoes, put into large bowl.

[2] Cut the ends off the onion, dice small.  Add to bowl.

[3] Cut ends off jalapeños and remove seeds if you want it less spicy, I kept mine in.

Dice small.  Wash your hands.  With soap.

[4] Add jalapeños to bowl.  Cut limes in half and squeeze juice of both into bowl.

[5] Chop cilantro and add to bowl.  Season with salt to taste and toss!

Serve with tortilla chips, on fish tacos, whatever!

This is a good one to make the day before too cause as it sits it gets better. 

See.  Lots of chopping, and a baby bump.

The finished product!  I think everything looks nicer in a Mason jar.