Mango Tea

One of my favorite things is tea, especially iced tea on a warm, sunny day

lately, with mango season coming in to full time...

I take a hefty bag on my morning walks with my dogs down the road...

and to the river where there is an old dam of long ago time...

where there are many mango trees growing from the old fruit plantation of years gone by...

 that still produce lots of mangoes for anyone who wants to pick them

children from up the mountain like to come down and shake the mangoes from the trees...

saving me the work of trying to reach the fruit from high branches

these old tall mango trees grow all along the river banks on both sides

I know of at least 5 varieties that have filled my bags each morning...

in the last couple of weeks

 usually, I pick them from off the ground as there are enough to give me more than...
well, enough

it isn't hard to find between 25 to 40 mangoes each day and truly...

they make a bag heavy that I have to carry back up the hill to bring home

I have had to make a second trip for all of them just so my arms don't leave their sockets...

with the weight of too many mangoes in a bag

and if you are wondering what I do with all these mangoes...

some I save for ourselves; the green ones I put aside to ripen for later;

and most go to the cows who really do love them

a few go to the chickens who run in a hurry to get to them before they are gone

and then, there is mango tea

I have seen mango flavored teas in the supermarket but...

it just isn't the same as making it oneself from the real thing

I peel and grate the mango fruit down to the seed

put a heaping teaspoon of black tea in a cup

and stir in hot water to steep for at least 15 minutes...

then, strain into a glass and let cool

when I'm ready to drink the tea...

plenty of ice cubes go into the glass and 2 teaspoons of raw honey to sweeten

truly, this is refreshing and awfully good

May your day or night find refreshment in the grace of the Lord.

Mango Tango Chutney Dance...

There are food blogs I enjoy perusing whose authors often give interesting stories to go along with their recipe posts...
I haven't got that kind of talent

I can offer a recipe...

shall we mango tango?

If you are blessed with mangoes in your area...

you can do more than just eat them.

I love a good mango.

Ceylons, pictured above on the plate...

are my all time favorite mango.

They have a very sweet, juicy, honey & flower taste to them...

and they look great piled on a plate.

 Their skin is often in lovely colors from light to hot pinks and honey yellow.

When our crops spring up with peppers, corn and other such eatables with an almost overwhelming harvest...

I rack my brain to see how many recipes I can use...

or make up on my own.

I use this chutney for grilled fish or chicken.

If you have no mangoes, you can substitute pineapple - fresh or canned.

You will also need:

4 to 6 small sweet peppers (you can use 1 bell pepper)

3 or 4 scallions

1 sweet, tender corn

2 to 3 cloves of garlic

3 Tbsp of coconut oil

1 Tbsp honey

2 tsp of apple cider vinegar

dash of salt and pepper

Cut the kernels off the corn cob...

and dice the scallions, garlic, and pepper

Take the mango and cut alongside the seed on both sides...

Carefully, slice into the mango into small squares...

carefully...avoid slicing through the skin...including yours

Turn the mango skin out and cut the pieces off the skin

Combine all the fruit and veggies together in a bowl.

At this point, you can decide whether you want the chutney raw or cooked. If you would rather have it cooked, just saute the fruit and veggies together in a little oil or butter and cook for no more than two minutes (or it will just be mush).

Combine the oil, honey and cider vinegar and blend together well...

add the salt & black pepper

Mix it into the chutney and that is all there is to it.

"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness

and righteousness and truth;

proving what is pleasing to the Lord."

Ephesians 5: 9-10

(from the Greek text)

May you find grace in the Lord and be filled with the fruit of the Spirit.