BANANACUE
REPUBLIC
Vol II, No. 15
Apr 13, 2005
(Contributor's Section)
by Jack Tupa
Tropical Mango Salsa
(Remembering Them)
5 Ripe Mangoes
3 Citrus
4 kiwis
5 Tomatoes
2 onions
3 BellPeppers
1 cup corn kernel
10-15 lemons
black pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
Have you ever tried thinking of a happy event or a special person then associate that happy thought with great food? Well, that’s how I am. I tend to think of people and remember food like an aftertaste.
For instance, when I was heavy, happy and swollen with my daughter inside my belly, I craved for juicy, sweet, golden, mangoes. The kind that is so sweet you’d think it was sugared. In the market, faced with a dozen mango vendors competing for my attention, I would close my eyes, and trust my ultra-sensitive nose to lead me to the sweetest mango of the lot. And it never failed me.
Procedure:
Wash the mangoes, kiwi and citrus.
When I think of my mother, I think about her delicious goat caldereta... goat stew tenderized by slow cooking, seasoned with love and perfected with years of patience.
Dice mangoes and kiwi then mix them in a bowl.
And when my great-grandmother comes to mind, I think of her “salvaro”. I regret that I wasn’t old enough then to ask her the recipe of her “tuba”-leavened bread before she passed away... When I close my eyes and try to remember the taste, I can feel on my tongue the texture of coconut pulp and flour, leavened with tuba. The banana leaf that serves as its baking sheet gives it its distinctive aroma. Is it possible to remember those details? She passed away 20 years ago...
...Peel citrus skin to remove pulp then add pulp to fruits.
When I think of my best friend, I think of her “French pudding”. It is so good and so sensual it helped me seduce a boyfriend. The boyfriend is long gone but the softness of the pudding continues to melt in my mouth...
...Also dice the tomatoes, onions and bell peppers.
And whenever I want to remember moonlit-nights, unicorns and sultry kisses, I bake Onion Quiche seasoned with salt in my tears, and sugar in my laughter... I know what this one is made of... only the best ingredients, nothing less. But time will tell.
...Add the corn kernels...
My father loves corn rice so much. He says it’s more delicious than regular rice... never mind that it is said to be the staple food of poor people. He is proud to be one and he worked his way up to a comfortable life. I am proud of him. He is self-made. That is my dad. One day he shared with me some corn rice and I loved its sweet aroma.
...Squeeze lemon juice
And not so long ago, a friend taught me how to make Banana-Peanut Butter Shake. Yummy, rich and sinfully good. This is the only effective way I can eat a banana without hearing the sticky sounds that one makes when eating one. This friend has flown to see the world but the friendship remains. I am happy that he is soaring but has not flown away...
...Add black pepper and cayenne to taste.
The recent Holy Week homecoming was such a happy family reunion I was inspired to create Lent Pesto Royale during an afternoon stroll in my mother’s garden abundant with sweet basil and oregano. My mother and father loved it so much they had 4 servings. My mother soon regretted it, she had a tummy ache.
...Mix all together and chill.
I am so blessed with so many good friends and family. Each one I love dearly and celebrate for the many flavors and experiences they have shared with me in my Life. Some have come and gone... some have stayed... some I have lost, found, and lost again. Others have found me, while some have yet to be found. And to each one of you who knows the essence of friendship and family, I share with you this yummy tropical recipe. Each time you prepare this food and enjoy it, always remember it’s not just food. It’s about celebrating and remembering the very essence of Life, for without which, Life is just a blur.
Garnish with
fresh mint and laughter.
Makes 8 servings.
Posted 04/13/05. Send your comment to
bananacue_republic@yahoo.com
"And
whenever I want to remember moonlit-nights, unicorns and sultry kisses, I
bake Onion Quiche seasoned with salt in my tears, and sugar in my
laughter..."