Mango and Avocado Salsa

2 Ripe mangos, peeled and chopped
1 Large avocado, peeled and chopped
1 Medium red onion, diced
2-4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
Juice of 2 limes
Salt and Pepper
Optional: 1 Jalapeno, stemmed, seeded and minced

Mix all but the lime juice and then squeeze the lime juice over all. Stir gently and chill.

Serve with chicken or fish. Or serve with tortilla chips for an unusual flavor.

Jalapeno Chutney

If you are like us, you put a pepper plant or two out in the spring and then you get more peppers than you know what to do with. They are so easy to grow. Usually Kirby just slices and pickles them but I wanted something more so he made me this wonderful chutney. We put it on everything - but the best is a grilled chicken breast or a nice pork loin.

4 medium fresh mangos
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 cups white sugar (Kirby used Splenda)
1/2 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar (white works well)
1 tablespoon ground fresh ginger or 1/2 T. dry ginger
1 - 2 cups diced fresh jalapenos
1 tsp. salt
1/2 T pepper

Peel the mangos and remove from the pit. Chop into chunks. Place all ingredients into large pot. Bring mixture to boil and continue boiling uncovered for 25 minutes.

Mixture will thicken slightly as liquid is reduced.

Pour into large bowl of food processor, pulsing briefly to coarsely mince the chutney before serving. Makes approximately 4 cups.


Serve over chicken, pork or turkey. Can be refrigerated for 2-3 weeks.

Mexican Bean and Pasta Salad

This is a recipe that I developed while living on our boat in Mexico. I began with a great recipe for Bean Salad that had given me 30 years or so ago and I decided to try to "spice it up" just a little. When I make it I seem to just put it all in a bowl and mix it up so I never wrote down any amounts. I will take a stab at the amounts here but please experiment for your own tastes.


For the dressing mix together the following in a large bowl and stir well to dissolve the sugar.
1/2 C. Salad Oil
1/2 C. Vinegar (white or cider work well)
3/4 C. Sugar
1/2 tsp salt, pepper
1-2 tsp Cumin depending on taste

To the dressing add the following -
1 can Black Beans drained and rinsed
1 can Kidney Beans drained and rinsed
1 can Garbanzo Beans drained and rinsed
10 - 16 oz Salad pasta or Elbow Macaroni, cooked, drained and rinsed with cold water
2-3 stalks of celery, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped fine
1 cup Cilantro (picked from the stems, washed and dried)
4-5 Roma (Plum) tomatoes chopped

Mix it all together and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. You can leave out an item here and there or make substitutions but the cumin, tomato and cilantro are must haves.