The Co-op Amazes Yet Again

Wowsers! This week was another great week for co-op fruits and vegetables. I am really enjoying the variety and the opportunity to try new fruits and vegetables. Many times it is the cost that has prohibited me from purchasing many items. This week we received the following:

Green Chilies (never had fresh before)
Hothouse/English Cucumbers (received some last week--that was a first for me for this variety)
Corn
Onions
Broccoli
Romaine Lettuce
Tomatoes
Pluots (received some last week--that was a first for me)
Peaches
Mangoes
Cantaloupe
Black Grapes
Plantains (never had before)

The hothouse cucumbers received last week were the inspiration for bringing back the chicken gyros. This week those paired with more mangoes (we received some a couple weeks ago too) were the inspiration for Mango Salsa. Oh my goodness. Deliciousness. The first night we ate the salsa with Rib Rub grilled pork chops, Coconut Rice, and watermelon. Fantastic all around. Since everything was so good and went together so well we went for a similar meal the next night. We had Rib Rub pork roast and put it in wheat tortillas with the Coconut Rice, Mango Salsa, and lettuce. So good.

You definitely need to try the Coconut Rice. This coming from someone who hasn't liked coconut in the past. PE also REALLY liked it and I was a little surprised but pleasantly so. He like it so much he said we need to make it more often.

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Mango Salsa
from Sparky
Print Recipe

2 mangoes, cubed
1/2 - 2/3 hot house cucumber, diced
1/3 sweet red pepper, diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1 tomato, diced
1 jalapeno, diced
1 lime, juice only
cilantro, diced (to taste)
salt (to taste)

Combine everything in a bowl. Serve with chips or as desired.

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Coconut Rice (rice cooker version)*
from Real Mom Kitchen
Print Recipe

3 cups Thai jasmine-scented white rice**
1 1/2 cups good-quality coconut milk
4 cups water
1 tsp salt
2 tsp brown sugar

Place rice in rice cooker. Add the water, coconut milk, sugar and salt. Stir well (use a plastic or wooden utensil to avoid scraping off the non-stick surface). Cover and set to cook. Once the rice cooker turns off, let the rice sit for 5 to 10 minutes to allow enough time for the rice to absorb all the water and become sticky.

*A stove top version of the Coconut Rice can be viewed by clicking on the Real Mom Kitchen link.
**Note that other types of rice, such as brown rice, do not work for this recipe.

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