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Chow Down on Pork 'n' Mango Skewers

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:15:20 -0700

Skewers are quintessential Summer food. They cook quickly on the barbecue, keep the house cool, and bring everyone outside to enjoy the wonderfully warm weather! This recipe for ancho-chile-marinated pork skewered with mangoes is a perfect combination of spicy and sweet. The cilantro sprinkled on top adds freshness and flavor to the already complex dish. To keep the entire dinner finger- and outdoor-friendly, I simply served it with barbecued corn. If you can't find mangoes, other fruits such as pineapples, peaches, or nectarines would be great substitutes. To get started on these succulent and tropical-inspired skewers keep reading.

Happy Hour: Peach and Mango Sangria

partysugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:00:02 -0700

Recently my parents hosted an impromptu barbecue. When I asked if I could make the specialty cocktail, my dad said, "nah, that's too much work." Then I politely reminded him that a specialty cocktail doesn't always involve muddling and exotic spirits. It can be as simple as a chilled sangria. Since sangria is my classic fall-back cocktail, he caved and let me experiment with a new mango-peach variation. Although the recipe doesn't require the sangria to be made in advance, I threw it together a few hours before the party to allow time for the flavors to blend. Choose peaches and mangoes that aren't too ripe, you want them to hold their shape when sliced. Beware: this sangria is wildly crowd-pleasing. I doubled the recipe, but ended up making four more batches throughout the night! To check it out, read more.

Mango-Peach Sangria
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 cup Grand Marnier
1 bottle Viognier
1 mango, chopped
2 peaches, cut into thin wedges
1/4 cup mint

Directions

In a saucepan, cook the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves; transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until cold.
Stir in the Grand Marnier, Viognier, mango, peaches and mint and serve over ice.

Serves 4.

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Noteworthy Nibbles - July 7-14, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:31 -0700

July's biggest holiday may have come and gone, but there's still so much to celebrate in the realm of Summer eats - whether it's salmon, sandwiches, or super-sized ketchup. Next Tuesday, don't forget to raise your glass to France's independence day. I plan to hightail it straight to my nearest French bistro to enjoy some moules frites. What are your plans for Bastille Day?

If you know if anything else that's going on, please feel free to chime in below.

Traverse City, MI: National Cherry Festival - July 4-11
New Orleans, LA: Tales of the Cocktail - July 8-12
Hollywood, FL: Slow Food Glades to Coast Hot Tropical Night - July 9
Cordova, AK: Copper River Wild Salmon Festival - July 9-11
Park Ridge, IL: Taste of Park Ridge - July 9-11
Pleasanton, CA: Alameda County Fair's Rib Cook-Off - July 9-12

To see the rest, read more.

Brentwood, CA: Brentwood Cornfest - July 10-12
Cambridge, MA: Taste of Cambridge - July 11
Bedford, VA: Horse and Hound Wine Festival - July 11
Sandwich, MA: SandwichFest - July 11
Los Altos, CA: Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival - July 11-12
Coral Gables, FL: International Mango Festival - July 11-12
Buffalo, NY: Taste of Buffalo - July 11-12
Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara French Festival - July 11-12
Collinsville, IL: World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival - July 12
Providence, RI: Rhode Island's World of Flavors - July 12
Seattle, WA: Seattle Chocolate Salon - July 12
Los Angeles, CA: Bastille Day Los Angeles - July 12
Athens, OH: Ohio Brew Week - July 12-18
New York, NY: Softshell Crab Extravaganza - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day on 60th Street - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day: La Fête Nationale - July 14

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Go Tropical With Spicy Shrimp Cocktail

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:00:45 -0700

After learning that larger shrimp should be deveined, I decided to throw a couple on the barbie and make a shrimp cocktail Carmen Miranda would be proud of. With the end of Spring bringing a large bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables, I picked up a couple avocados, corn on the cob, and mangoes to create a fruity and refreshing cocktail.

The shrimp rub is spicy, and alone these shrimp might make your mouth burn. But these slightly smoky shrimp are well balanced by the creamy avocado, crunchy roasted corn, and sweet mango mixture. This dish is perfect for parties as everything can be prepared the night before and then quickly assembled just before serving. If you want to give this complex and vibrant dish a try, read more.

Spicy Shrimp With Avocado, Corn, and Mango Cocktail
Inspired by Epicurious

Ingredients

Shrimp
20 jumbo shrimp (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and deveined
2 teaspoons chile powder, (use less, if desired)
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder, (use less, if desired)
1 clove of garlic, finely diced
1 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Avocado, Corn, Mango Cocktail
2 avocados, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
2 mangoes, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
2 ears of corn, cleaned and shucked
2 limes
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
Olive oil

Directions

Rinse the shrimp under cold running water, then blot them dry with paper towels. Soak two to three skewers in water.
Place the chile powders, garlic, coriander, cumin, and pepper in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add the shrimp and toss to coat with the spice rub. Stir in the olive oil. Let the shrimp marinate in the refrigerator, covered, for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Preheat barbecue to high. Skewer shrimp. Cook the shrimp for 2 to 4 minutes until firm.
With the barbecue still on high, coat the ears of corn with olive oil and place directly on grill. Rotate slowly roasting each side of the corn until slightly blackened. Roast for 15-20 minutes.
Cool corn on the cob. Using a large knife, carefully remove corn from the cob.
Gently combine roasted corn, mangoes and avocado in a large bowl with the juice of two limes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Spoon the avocado, mango, corn cocktail into 4 large glasses or serving bowls. Drape 5 of the hot shrimp over the edge of each glass or bowl and serve at once. Or for a cold shrimp cocktail, let the cooked shrimp cool to room temperature. Refrigerate the shrimp, covered, until they are chilled before serving them with the cocktail. The cooked shrimp can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Serves 4.

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Which Spring Fruits Continue to Ripen Once Picked?

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:50:02 -0700

Recently, Party and I partook in Edible Pursuit, a food trivia event produced by Edible San Francisco. While there, we tackled a surprisingly difficult question about which fruits ripen on the vine.

Since Spring means the onset of some of our favorite fresh fruits, we thought we would test you to see if you can tell us which seasonal fruits continue to ripen after they've been picked.

Are you ready to begin? Let's go!

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Come Party With Me: Indian Dinner - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:30:06 -0800

A lassi is a traditional Indian milk shake made with yogurt instead of milk. While many variations are savory, for my Indian-inspired dinner party, I'll be whipping up a mango lassi. There's no sugar, but honey provides a subtle sweetness to the creamy drink, while lime juice adds a refreshing tartness. For those guests who have an extreme sweet tooth, consider purchasing a couple flavored chocolate bars. Vosges Naga Exotic Candy Bar is inspired by the tribes of Northeast India. The bar is a mixture of deep milk chocolate, sweet Indian curry, and coconut. It makes a deliciously easy finish to the rich meal. To check out the mango lassi recipe, read more.

Mango Lassi
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 ripe mangoes, (1 pound each)
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups small ice cube

Directions

Peel mangoes, and remove pits; coarsely chop flesh.
Puree mangoes and yogurt in a blender until smooth. Add lime juice and honey; pulse to combine. Add ice; blend until incorporated. Serve immediately.

Makes 5 cups.

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Reader Recipe: Tropical Crab Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:14 -0800

It's Dungeness crab season right now in San Francisco, and I can't wait to take advantage of the extremely fresh catch. After seeing TeamSugar member lengel's recipe for tropical crab salad, I already know what I'll be making with my crabmeat. With ingredients such as mangoes, avocados, cilantro, and radicchio, the salad looks crunchy, sweet, savory, bright, and zesty all at the same time. To see the healthy recipe, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member lengel

Healthy & Easy Crab Salad
Elie Kruger The Food You Crave

I stumbled upon this easy crab salad while flipping through Ellie Krieger's cookbook The Food You Crave. If you don't already own this book I suggest you snag one for your cookbook collection. It's full of awesome recipes that are lighter and healthier, yet oh so yummy.

Ingredients

For the Salad
1/2 pound lump crab meat, picked over for shells and cartilage
1 stalk celery, finely diced (1/4 cup)
1/2 cup peeled and finely diced ripe mango
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup coarsely chopped radicchio

For the Dressing
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
In a medium sized bowl, gently toss together the crab with the celery, mango, scallions, cilantro and radicchio. For the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the lime juice, lime zest, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Next, slowly whisk in the olive oil until an emulsion begins. Add the dressing to the salad and gently toss to combine.

Served any way you like!

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Fish Tacos With Mango Salsa

partysugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:15:49 -0800

Looking for a way to brighten up January's cold Winter evenings? How about spicy fish tacos with a tropical salsa?! The fish, in this case it's red snapper, is grilled instead of fried, making for a taco that is healthier and more fresh than its street food counterpart. The salsa is a mix of sweet mangoes, crunchy red onion, and hot serrano chiles. Serve with tortilla chips, guacamole, and cold beer for a meal perfect to enjoy while watching this weekend's NFL playoffs. To check out the scrumptious recipe, read more.

Fish Tacos With Mango Salsa
From The Nest

Ingredients

For the mango salsa:
1/2 cup finely diced mango
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 Serrano chile pepper, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For tacos:
1 pound red snapper fillets
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups "Pickled" Red Cabbage or shredded raw red cabbage
2 lime wedges

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the salsa ingredients. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Meanwhile, season both sides of the fish with cumin, salt, and pepper. Brush both sides with oil. Heat a grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
Grill the fish, turning once, until just opaque in the center but not flaking, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer the fish to a cutting board and cut into chunks.
While the fish is cooking, heat the corn tortilla on the grill until hot, about 30 seconds on each side. Transfer each tortilla to a plate and stack between layers of aluminum foil to keep warm.
Divide the fish chunks among the 8 tortillas. Top each with 1/4 cup of the red cabbage and 1/4 cup of the mango salsa. Squeeze lime juice over each taco and serve hot.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Shrimp, Cucumber, and Mango Salad

YumSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:45:42 -0800

Still trying to do good after weeks of holiday indulgence? This salad is light in every respect except taste. Its exotic flavors will be like a resort vacation for your palate - a welcome break from the hearty soups and stews of the season.

While tropical fruits may seem out of place in a Winter salad, mangoes are often shipped from countries like Brazil, where it's Summer and peak growing season. Serve the salad alongside plantain chips and pomegranate-mango guacamole for pure paradise.

For a stunningly simple meal, read more.

Shrimp, Cucumber, and Mango Salad
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
4 large pickling cucumbers, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
1 large mango, peeled, pitted, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 pound cooked medium shrimp
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Hot pepper sauce
12 Bibb lettuce leaves

Directions

Mix vinegar and sugar in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Whisk in mustard and mayonnaise. Cover and chill. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)
Combine cucumbers, mango, shrimp, and dill in large bowl.
Pour dressing over; toss to coat. Season with salt and hot pepper sauce. Arrange 2 lettuce leaves on each of 6 plates. Top with shrimp salad.

Serves 6.

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Tart and Sweet Pomegranate-Mango Guacamole

YumSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:15:27 -0800

I love avocados especially in the form of a chunky, flavorful guacamole. When I found a recipe that included one of my favorite Fall fruits, pomegranate seeds, I was thrilled! I served this colorful and simple guacamole with tortilla chips, but it would be a great addition to tacos and delicious on grilled pork. Each bite of this guacamole is perfectly balanced. The texture of the creamy avocado is offset by the spicy serrano chili. The juicy and sweet mango contrasts with the occasional burst of crunchy and tart pomegranate seeds. If you want to enjoy this scrumptious, distinctive guacamole, read more.

Pomegranate Mango Guacamole
From Gourmet

Ingredients

3 ripe avocados
1/2 white onion, finely chopped
1 serrano chili, finely chopped, including seeds
1 lime, juiced
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
3/4 cup diced peeled mango
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions

Cut the mango in half lengthwise. With a small sharp knife score the flesh both horizontally and vertically. Pushing on the skin of the mango, flip it inside out and cut off the flesh from the skin.
To remove the pomegranate seeds, cut the pomegranate in half and submerge in a large bowl of water then gently peel to remove all of the seeds.
Halve, pit, and peel avocados. Coarsely mash in a bowl. Stir in onion, chiles, 1/4 cup lime juice, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, then fold in pomegranate seeds, mango, and cilantro. Season with salt and additional lime juice.

Serves 6-8 people.

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