If ambrosia is the nectar of the gods, then chocolate is the main course. Specifically, dark chocolate in all its incarnations, from foil-wrapped bars to warming winter beverages. Or, as I made recently, chocolate crepes stuffed with mascarpone cheese and fresh mango slices. Talk about a delicious way to get your morning started! And it’s [...]
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Mangoes ARE summer: they’re sweet, they’re smooth, they’re a vibrant color, and they make you think of [fill in your favorite tropical setting here]. They also come in more than one variety — ever seen those little baby mangoes nestled in next to the big ones? They’re called “champagne” mangoes. I also think of them [...]
Until I took my first bite of this fruit-filled crepe, I had forgotten about blintzes, but then fond memories of the frozen blintzes from Trader Joe’s came rushing back. If you haven’t had a blintz, though, don’t worry — you’ll still be amazed by how creamy, rich, and sweet these crepes are. Happily, they’re a [...]
Upfront disclosure to the mousse die-hards out there: this is not a true mousse. True mousses are made with eggs — they’re the key ingredient, in fact — whereas this one is made with macadamia nut butter. Still, the nutty richness of the macadamia butter is very reminiscent of an eggy richness, and both the [...]
Cabin fever strikes again! This time, I’ve paired shrimp with avocado and mango to escape the winter blues. This salad is refreshing for the tongue and for the eyes…and with the protein and calcium from the shrimp, the antioxidants from the mangoes, the fiber and good fat from the avocadoes, and the omega-3s from the [...]
When the weather gets chilly, the chilled make drinks with umbrellas in them so that we can pretend we’re lounging on a Caribbean beach…or at least imagine ourselves on a cruise ship heading towards the islands. The beauty of this drink is that you can make it as an exotic wake-me-up or add rum for [...]
A pavlova is a baked meringue shell topped with fruit or sauce. (And yes, it’s named after a Russian ballerina.) Pavlovas are very simple to make, yet never fail to impress. I topped this one with a kiwi pureé, diced mangoes, and pomegranate seeds. It’s a flavorful, visually-stunning dessert…and it’s fat-free! Not only that, kiwis [...]
Strange title, I know, but I prefer to make a fruit salad out of fruit that won’t brown quickly. It’s more visually appealing and less wasteful–if you have left-overs, they’ll make a nice breakfast the next day. Or you can freeze the leftovers in small bunches and use them any time to make a multi-fruit [...]
According to my surfer buddy in San Diego, “surfer’s surprise” is anything you take out of the fridge and throw together for dinner. In that spirit, then, I thought I’d write down the recipe for fish tacos I used to make in Costa Rica with my surfer pals. Warning: we never measured anything; the ingredients [...]
This makes a very refreshing smoothie when mangoes are in season. When choosing your mango, make sure you get one that is soft but not squishy (avoid ones with indentations and browning–that indicates bruising) and do the sniff test: a ripe mango should have a strong fragrance. Also look for one with a trail of [...]
