A taste of Summer

 I do not know about but you there are a couple things that I adore about summer; some including sun-kissed skin, cool summer nights, the beach, summer trips, flowy sundresses and most importantly the ripe and tangy taste of freshly picked mangoes and cherries. Having a Caribbean background, I grew up eating fresh fruits, especially during the summer. Living in Florida it is not too hard to come by fresh mangoes especially since my parents as with many other Caribbean people have a self-planted mango tree in their backyards (literally). It's like a taste of the Caribbean at your fingertips. Don't worry if you're not that fortunate there are a couple other ways to access this and cherries via your local farmers market and grocery stores.

Now, what's the hype about mangoes and cherries anyway? They are just fruit, right? WRONG they are the kisses of summer, the pièce de résistance, the icing on a birthday cake, the reception to a wedding. Okay, I am not sure where the last phrase came from but you get it. Mangoes and cherries are the highlights of a picturesque summers day or night. Now there may be some people who are not sold on these two fruits being the pinnacle of summer but please give me a chance to prove my case.

Mangoes many know are indigenous to the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico. This, in my opinion is part of the reason why people in these islands have beautiful skin and live with little stress. This fruit comes in different shades typically green and red, green and yellow or a hue of all three. Once cut open the color is a bright welcoming orange. The taste is tart and sweet, the texture should be firm with slight softness. The perfect breakfast, snack, dessert, and an amazing addition to smoothies as well. For those who desire to eat well there are a number of nutritional benefits as well including:

·         Vitamin C & A  (slow’s aging )

·         Beta Carotene (helps prevent cancer)

·         Helps Clear Skin

·         Detox’s System

Nothing but positives, I can hear the ocean waters calling now.

Cherries contrary to the mango are small sweet and tart. Often sold canned with a sugary juice mix around the holidays; it’s hard to believe that those same cherries start out picked off of a cherry tree. However, I MUST recommend freshly picked cherries found in local & supermarkets during peak season. This little fruit has so many benefits and perks. Cherries are a great addition to sweet and savory sauces, cobblers, compotes and jams to name a few things. If that does not interest you here are a few other perks to eating cherries:

·         

Natural mood enhancer

·         Full of antioxidants (slowing aging)

·         Full of potassium helping to reduce blood pressure

·         Reduces inflammation in joints ( when taken in juice form also)

·         Aids in falling asleep, with natural melatonin

I call it the feel-good fruit, with the qualities of reducing pain in people suffering from osteoporosis, gout and other diseases that cause swelling it’s a no-brainer as to why it should be an added to your fruit intake.

In my efforts to motivate you in eating and enjoying cherries and mangoes I have even added a few summer recipes for you to enjoy. Feel free to comment or tag me online if you have tried them.

Cherry Plum Compote

Ingredients

·         6 Tbsp sugar

·         3Tbs rum (optional)

·         1 tsp cornstarch

·         2 tsp vanilla extract

·         4 plums halved

·         1 lb sweet cherries pitted

·         Vanilla ice cream

Directions

Preheat oven 375 degrees. In a small bowl add sugar, rum, cornstarch, and vanilla. Place in a greased baking dish. Place the palms skin side up. Sprinkle with cherries. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes. Serve warm on top of vanilla ice cream

Summer Mango Smoothie

ingredients        

• 2 whole mangos chopped
• ·        
• 1 tbsp sugar
• ·        
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
• ·        
• 1/4c vanilla almond milk
• ·        
• 2 tsp Vanilla extract

Directions

 Take all of the ingredients except for almond milk in a blender, and blend. Gradually add the milk until smooth. Place in a glass cup and drink cold

Be Blessed

Genesis 1:29 (ISV)

God also told them, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant that grows throughout the earth, along with every tree that grows seed-bearing fruit. They will produce your food.