We Present Mango Musings
By James L. (JimiJam)
There’s something strangely therapeutic about the way I eat mangoes, almost cathartic, though I rarely, if ever, cry. There’s a reckless abandon to the way I throw myself at the vibrant, glistening orb set before me, an almost childlike disregard for manners or decorum. That youthful innocence plays out in the shameless grinning of sticky sweet lips dripping with citrus pine juices; I swear that, were the seat high enough to allow for it, I would kick my feet playfully as I hummed sweet mango songs to myself through over-sized mouthfuls of delectable orange flesh.
There are few joys as uninhibited, and yet so simple and convenient. It takes merely the selection of a properly ripened specimen and a quick peeling, and the stage is set perfectly for bliss. No darkness dare oppose the happiness that lies within that multicolored rind, no amount of sadness or anger could possibly outlast the 5 minutes it takes to regrettably reach that ovular disc of a pit.
If I could, I would eat nothing but mangoes, though no doubt this would somehow blunt their powers of unrivaled and miraculous goodness. I am more than content, as ever I shall be, to have just eaten one, at its well appointed time. With no room in my stomach for another, there would be no room in my heart for more happiness, my cup having runneth over in abundance. In that moment my life, as my fingers and face, is undeniably juicy and sweet.
Some Mango Books to enjoy:
Tags: Book Suggestions, Members
MMMMM Mangos. I think a mango smoothie is just the ticket for breaKfast this morning. 🙂
Love This! I can truly see Jimi eating his Mangos. He has talked about them before and with doing so, has encouraged me to eat outside my box. I have found…We like them too! A mango-yogurt smoothie IS the ticket this morning.
Loved your post, Jimi! I will NEVER approach a mango the same way again!
Mangoes are magical! I have not, in all my experienced years, ever encountered such a thing as a bad mood which cannot be entirely overcome by a single, ripe mango. Super-glad to be able to share my mangophilia 🙂
Ohhhhhhh I can see that I need to find a magical mango and try it!
For anyone who’s never purchased a mango before, here are some tips:
A ripe mango will yield a little when squeezed, and feel “juicy”, not hard. You can sometimes tell if a mango is ready by smell, particularly near the stem end. It should have a citrus and pine fragrance to it. If you do buy a mango that’s firm and under-ripe, you can ripen it quickly by placing it in a brown paper bag. When doing so, be sure to check it every so often, because it can quickly over-ripen if left in the bag for too long. It’s difficult to tell what kind of mango you’re getting by looks alone; some mangoes have fibrous pits, while others’ flesh is more consistent from skin to stone.
When preparing a mango, there are several methods, but the most simple begin with cutting the top or bottom (tip or stem end) so that the mango can be stood on its end and easily managed. You can then proceed peel the mango with a knife or a peeler. Then, finding the shape of the pit (which is a flat oval), cut along the pit to produce two “halves”, and then cut the remaining flesh off of the stone. Some folks prefer to cut the “halves” off without peeling, scoring the flesh into squares from the inside, then bending the rind back and eating the squares off piece by piece. Owing to the thickness of most mangoes, I’ve never had much luck working with the peel in this fashion.
I tend to recommend my method more often than not, which is of course to simply peel the mango, hold it in both hands (over a plate or bowl to catch the drippings), and tuck in!
and don’t forget http://www.amazon.com/Embarrassment-Mangoes-Caribbean-Interlude/dp/0767914279 – an embarrassment of mangoes. great read!
Great writing JimJam!!! Enjoyed it. Only wish I could enjoy the fruit itself. Even the smell makes me want to ERK! But all the book references were outstanding!
You make mangoes sound soooo good, so delicious. Makes me wish I liked them!!! LOL
wow… now i want a mango.. and i dont even really like them except in smoothies haha.. awesome writing jimi 🙂