Mango salsa

The weather was beautiful on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. Just right and not too hot to the point where I want to duck in a find shelter. Perhaps it was the lovely cool gentle breeze that we all yearn for on those sunny days without a cloud in sight.

Aside from anything else, I find trips to the fresh local produce or markets relaxing and a way of slowing down. I love the aroma of pineapples, mangoes, strawberries, which is not always easy to come by. It is also lovely to find new ingredients, support local businesses and farmers, and just have a beautiful small chat with people. Sometimes if there are flowers in season or unique, I would purchase them and do a simple ikebana design for the home. I think this is another lovely way of bringing nature into the house. Having this mindset allows me to shift my perfective of understanding these small pockets of gems (moments) into cultivating gratitude and a sense of calm in the day. I didn’t always think to act this, especially last year where the thought of purchasing produce and food was a hassle and stressful, to be honest, which I didn’t like. This led me to ask myself this question ” what is one thing that I can do in my control to make it a little interesting, fun, enjoyable or exciting? ” It is amazing how gratitude has the power to turn around average day into one that is beautiful. Seeing the same situation, but with a different perspective.

Alright, so let’s talk ingredients.

Mangoes and salsa instantly remind me of summertime. While this recipe has few ingredients, the freshness and aroma of the fruit and veggies will make a huge difference from an ok to a fantastic salsa. If there are any local fruit grocers or farmers markets closely that you know that are known for their quality of fresh produce, give them a try. Sometimes when I am in a rush or tired, in all honesty, I may in once in a blue moon get produce from the supermarket. However, it doesn’t have the same taste, flavour, and captivating aroma, reminding me why I love sticking back to my usual fruit and veg markets.

Like the mangoes, I highly suggest using fresh-squeezed limes over the ready-made lime juice. I don’t think this is really common. However, I use the zest of the lime to increase the aroma of the lime, which pairs nicely with freshly cracked black pepper. Mixing all of the ingredients, you end up with a colourful dish on a plate and bowl that looks calming to observe, packed with flavour and fresh tyangy smell from the lime (I’m sure you can see that flavour is not only an essential factor but also smell texture and how it looks).