Recipes for Memorial Day Cooking

Fruit-based Salsa and Mango Bellini Sweeten Early-Summer Celebration

© Michael Vyskocil

Apr 21, 2008

Summer entertaining could mean nothing more than lazy moments on porches or in hammocks in the backyard. But if you add friends and family, arrange simple drinks and bite-size appetizers on trays, it becomes summer entertaining with style. Put a guest in charge of crushing the ice, another squeezing lemons, another cutting up fresh late-summer fruit. Then, mix up some refreshing fruit drinks--like a Mango-Banana Daiquiri, a Mango Bellini or a nonalcoholic Strawberry Punch for those of you who don't indulge. You'll find the recipes for these drinks and a sweet fruit salsa below. So celebrate the beginning of summer on Memorial Day among friends, family and loved ones!

Fruited Breakfast Salsa Recipe

Makes Approximately 1 1/2 Cups

This salsa is a pleasant accompaniment to breakfast toast or scrambled eggs.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium mango, pitted
• 1/4 pineapple, cored
• 1 medium tomato, seeded
• 1 peach, skin removed
• 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced*
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey (optional)

Directions:

1. Finely chop the mango, pineapple, tomato and peach into pieces of approximately the same size. Combine in a medium bowl.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and stir well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*NOTE: Some peppers, like the jalapeno in this recipe, hold oils that can irritate and even cause burns to sensitive areas of your body, particularly your eyes, mouth and skin. When preparing hot peppers, always try to wear latex surgeon's gloves to protect your hands from burns. Never touch your face when cutting up a hot pepper. Finally, always wash your hands immediately after handling the peppers.

Mango-Banana Daiquiri Recipe

Makes 4 Drinks

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ripe mango
• 2 medium bananas, cut into chunks
• 4 large strawberries
• 1/2 cup light rum
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice*
• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 2 cups crushed ice
• Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)
• Ground nutmeg, for garnish (optional)
• Strawberries, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. In an electric blender, blend all ingredients, except the cinnamon, nutmeg and garnish strawberries, until smooth and frothy.
2. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish the top of each drink with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and whole strawberries, if desired.

*VARIATIONS: To make creamier daiquiris, substitute 1/2 cup of milk or heavy cream or one 8-ounce carton of plain yogurt for the 1 cup of orange juice.

Strawberry Punch Recipe

Makes 14 to 16 8-ounce Drinks

A fresh-tasting punch like this one is even better if a wonderful tea is used, such as one of the fruit-flavored blends from Fortnum & Mason.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cold water
• 3 tablespoons fragrant tea leaves (such as chamomile)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen loose-pack strawberries, thawed
• 3 cups cold water
• 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

1. Fill a large 2-quart glass pitcher with 4 cups cold water and the tea leaves. Cover with a lid or a piece of clear plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature or in full sunlight for 2 to 3 hours or until the tea has reached the desired strength. Strain the tea through a sieve to remove the tea leaves. Combine the tea, orange juice and sugar in a large pitcher; set aside.
2. Place the fresh or thawed strawberries in a blender container or in the bowl of a food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine sieve.
3. Add the strawberry puree, 3 cups of cold water, and the lemon juice to the tea mixture. Stir gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, pour the punch over crushed ice in tall glasses.

Mango Bellini Recipe*

Makes 1 Drink

Here is a unique twist on an old favorite. The Mango Bellini is perfect for special occassions, brunch or anytime.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon fresh mango pureed
• 4 ounces chilled Prosecco
• 1 mango peeled, pitted, and sliced for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine mango puree and chilled Prosecco in each champagne glass and serve.
2. Garnish with fresh mango slices on the rim.

*Source: Recipe courtesy of National Mango Board

Mango Bellini

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