Mango Monday: Mango-Cucumber Rice Salad with Lime & Scallion Vinaigrette

Monday is a great day for a salad, isn't it? The weekend has us fresh and ready to go. It's the beginning of a new week. We're still looking on the bright side of things, and the work/school blues haven't quite kicked in yet...Yeah, Monday is a great day for a tasty, refreshing salad.

This combination of mango, cucumber, and rice can be mixed together in a cinch, and the Lime & Scallion Vinaigrette is just as simple. You can also make a big batch, keep it chilled in the refrigerator, and enjoy it all week long! The flavors pair well with seared fish, grilled or sauteed shrimp, and even your standard rotisserie chicken. It's incredibly easy to turn this salad into a complete meal!

Mango Monday: Mango Paloma

Happy Mango Monday, everyone! I hope you're all reading this after enjoying one last Summer hurrah, a nice long weekend filled with sunny skies and ice cold drinks!

Before you head back to work and all other daily routines, though, how about having one more happy hour? As long as we've still got 90+ degree weather (which is definitely the case where I live), we can still enjoy a refreshing beverage or two. Have a Razz-Apple Champagne Slushie, or serve up a pitcher of Isla Sangria!  

Or, better yet, mix up this tropical take on the Paloma. This tequila cocktail has ginger ale, fresh lime, and sweet mango juice. It was made for easy-drinking, meant to be sipped while kicking back and relaxing. (Think sparkling margarita!) Summertime never has to end!

Mango Monday: Mango Chiffon Cake

It has returned! Mango Monday has returned! My weekly mango posts disappeared for a while when I went on vacation, but I promise that it's back and here to stay.

I mentioned on the last Mango Monday that I had been testing out different cake and frosting recipes, in preparation for a wedding party. During my search, I came across this Mango Chiffon Cake! It used pureed manila mangoes (my fave!) to flavor a light and airy chiffon cake. Ultimately, I used a different one for the wedding, but I still wanted to try it out, if only just to have it in my dessert rotation. It's a simple cake that's perfect for brunch, with coffee or tea, or if you're having some friends over for lunch, a not-too-heavy way to end a mid-day meal.

Mango Monday: Whipped Mango Buttercream

One of my best and longtime friends is getting married in a couple of weeks! (Trust me, it'll be all over my Instagram and Twitter soon enough.) For loved ones that can't make it to the actual wedding, he and his soon-to-be-husband are having an intimate and casual reception...and they asked me to make their iconic "slicing" cake, as well as the guests' cupcakes.

First, I squealed, gave them both bear hugs, and then squealed some more. This wasn't just a regular ol' task, so I am beyond grateful to be a part of such an important and amazing occasion in their lives! Then, the panic set in. I've made cakes for birthdays, cakes for baby showers...but never wedding cakes. I knew that some careful planning lied ahead. So, for the last month, I've been narrowing down lists of cake flavors, frostings, and potential decorations. (The generous grooms gave me complete creative control!)

Mango Monday: Isla Sangria

You may or may not notice that it is actually Wednesday.

You may or may not pretend that it is Monday. (There's a good reason why I delayed Mango Monday this week, I promise.)

Time-traveling aside, today's recipe is perfect for any Summer afternoon. The combination of chilled wine, fresh fruit, and citrus is a classic one...I'm talking about sangria.

"Isla" is Tagalog (Filipino) for "island", and Isla Sangria is made with sweet mangoes and calamansi, two staples in a Filipino kitchen. This version offers a refreshing and tropical take on the beloved beverage. There's nothing like relaxing with a glass of wine, so find yourself a sunny spot to lounge in!

Mango Monday: Manila Mangoes & Coconut Sticky Rice

Imagine yourself at your favorite spot for authentic Thai cuisine. A bowl of Red Curry Chicken, a platter of Pad Thai, maybe some Pineapple Fried Rice...You plow through it all. Every delicious and spicy bite. Now, it's time for the waiter to bring a tray of dessert for the table. A dessert that's refreshing and palate-cleansing all in one.

Are you craving mangoes and sticky rice yet?

Luckily, getting dressed and heading out to your local Thai joint will not be necessary. Homemade Coconut Sticky Rice is so easy to whip up! For a fresh and simple finish, ripe mangoes are sliced and spread right over the top!

Mango Monday: Mango Lemon Bars

Before a family get-together, there are many phone calls made between the aunties and the cousins, all about who is supposed to bring what. Oh, glorious potluck planning. We exchange requests (my cousin Stacey makes some amazing dips), and we all come up with a million different things to fill up the buffet table...and the dessert table. This is where my contribution usually lands. Just last week, I made Carrot Cupcakes for my godson Noah's birthday party!

For this weekend, though, my dessert would need to be able to survive a 2-hour drive on a hot, Summer afternoon. Anything frozen or topped with delicate buttercream were pretty much out of the question. (Easy transportation, please.) Ultimately, bars popped into my head as the perfect, tasty solution! They're easy to make, easy to transport, and easy to serve as a party food!

Mango Lemon Bars are a tropical twist on the classic recipe. The shortbread crust is freckled with lemon zest and vanilla bean, and the creamy filling is made with fresh mango puree and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Together, they make a sweet-tooth-satisfying and mouth-puckering dessert!

Mango Monday: Green Mango & Papaya Salsa with Baked Taro Chips

As I type this, the temperature outside reads 104 degrees. It will still be in the 90's later on tonight. And the forecast for the rest of the week? Same.

Lounging in the pool, having an ice cold drink, and munching on some chips & salsa all sound like great ways to beat the heat, don't they? So here's a tropical twist on the classic chips & salsa combo!

Tart green mango, sweet Hawaiian papaya, and green heirloom tomato come together in a salsa that will have you wishing you were on an island somewhere. (Preferably on a beach with a gorgeous ocean view...) And to scoop all of that deliciousness up? Baked taro chips! This Hawaiian staple is sliced thinly and baked to a golden-brown crisp.

Mango Monday: The Detox

Sometimes, after a long holiday weekend, you wake up on Monday morning and wonder what you should have for breakfast. You wonder if you should go all-out eggs, bacon, and toast...Because you have to start the day/week off right, right? And how could bacon and a fried egg ever be wrong?...Or, maybe, you should go the lighter route with some fresh fruit and oatmeal.

That was me. This morning. The struggle is real.

There were plenty of red meat, beer, and fries last weekend, after sitting through the US Open rounds, NBA Finals, and plenty of baseball games. Something light would be a nice and much-welcomed change. (But yay for great food and father-daughter bonding!) I've heard of all-natural, pressed juices and the crazy hype of juice cleanses, but I've never been the type to go on any kind of diet. I do love juice, though, so the bandwagon finally caught me and I bought myself an inexpensive, easy-to-use juicer. (I started to read a guide on the difference between centrifugal and masticating juicers and almost gave up on buying one...My philosophy? I can always upgrade later.)

I'm also starting "Mango Mondays"! Summer is in full swing, and every week I'll have a new recipe that uses mango! So, for the inaugural post and for your detoxing pleasure, I give you: Mango-Carrot Juice :)