Breakfast #37: Summer Mango Straight Up

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I can’t talk about summer breakfasts without talking about mangoes. And, if you’ve been reading for a while, I can’t talk about our mangoes without getting a little too hyperbolic. So I will try to restrain myself as much possible.

I can only speak from my own personal experience that our mangoes are the sweetest fruit I have ever tasted. Not just the sweetest mangoes. The sweetest fruit. To my fellow countrymen, I know sometimes you may feel like we might not have much too brag about** but people, I tell you this, this is chest-puffing, feet-strutting, head-bobbing braggable. Something we can all click our heels over my friends. I know that I often bemoan our lack our fresh figs and berries and wild forest mushrooms, but really, I would never trade. Never ever***.

You can get mangoes almost year round here, as some farmers and fruit producers do their sorcery to get more harvests in a year. But the best mangoes are still the ones that come in the summer. Impossible sweet and juicy. And if you can find a farm that harvests only once a year, when the fruit is truly in season, that is gold. These mangoes are the pinnacle of everything a mango should be and are proof positive that produce is truly best when they are in season.

You can imagine my excitement when our supplier alerted her buyers that that those very mangoes, those that we have patiently (or impatiently) waited a year for, were now being harvested! We placed our order and the three of us went to pick up our 5-kilo box.

Yes, 5 kilos of mangoes. It’s summer after all and we will be having it from breakfast (and dessert) quite often. I top my yogurt with generous chunks and C has some smoothies planned. Little C will also be partaking of this most brilliant of tropical fruits -- already one of her favorite snacks.

But before all that, my best summer breakfast ever. I’d like to present you with a grand meal in which mangoes have been deliciously and skillfully incorporated. If I am honest though, I have to say that, for me, the absolute best way to enjoy our mangoes is straight up. And there is no better way to greet a sunny summer morning than with one of these.

Now, don’t be fooled. This is simple but by no means haphazard. First you need to wait until the mango is at its prime moment of ripeness – the skin will be uniformly deep yellow bordering on orange, the fruit will still be firm with just a bit of yield, losing its unripe rigidity, and above all else the smell…the smell of it will waft through the room and will be at its most concentrated in its stem portion. Once optimum ripeness is determined I like to place the mango in the refrigerator. I know, I know, for some it is a sacrilege to place fruit in the fridge, but believe me, once you have tried a well chilled mango on a hot summer morning you will be changing you tune. Slice as much of the cheeks from the seed as you can and scoop out the flesh with a spoon (as in the photo). After you are done you can peel the skin off the sides of the seed and bite off the flesh from there as well. Every bit is worth it!

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Happy summer everyone! :)

**That’s aside from the lovely beaches, lechon (best pig ever according to Anthony Bourdain!), and our charm ;)
***Permanently that is. The occasional barter is definitely accepted!

Benny Benassi - Satisfaction (Mokkas Club Mix) (2003)


Benny Benassi - Satisfaction (Mokkas Club Mix) (2003)

Sonique - It Feels So Good (Breakbeat Edit - 7'') (1998)


Sonique - It Feels So Good (Breakbeat Edit - 7'') (1998)

Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life (Morales Radio Mix) (1997)


Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life (Morales Radio Mix) (1997)

The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (2003)


The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (2003)

Wyclef Jean - It Doesn't Matter (Ft. The Rock) (2000)


Wyclef Jean - It Doesn't Matter (Ft. The Rock) (2000)

Amber - Sexual (Li Da Di) (Original Radio Edit) (1999)


Amber - Sexual (Li Da Di) (Original Radio Edit) (1999)

Armand Van Helden - Full Moon (Feat. Cammon) (2004)


Armand Van Helden - Full Moon (Feat. Cammon) (2004)

Atomic Kitten - The Tide Is High (2002)


Atomic Kitten - The Tide Is High (2002)

B 52'S - Love Shack (DJ Tonka Radio Edit) (1999)


B 52'S - Love Shack (DJ Tonka Radio Edit) (1999)

''Daily routine'' by Marianela, 5C


Hello everybody!
This is my daily routine.I get up at half past eight.Then I have a shower.I have breakfast at twenty-five to eight.I get dressed up , comb my hair and put on my shoes. I go to school at ten to eight.I work hard at school.We go to the playground at half past eleven. In the playground I play with my friends.At two o'clock we go to our houses. Everyday I have lunch with my family at half past two.Then I have a rest and do my homework. At quarter to five I go to play baketball.In the afternoon I go to music classes.At nine o'clock I have dinner. Then I read a book and watch tv. I have a bath, brush my teeth and at ten o´clock I go to bed.


" Everyday" by Luis P, 5 C

EVERYDAY :

I get up at eight o´clock.
I get dressed at quarter past eight.
I have breakfast at half past eight.
I brush my teeth at quarter to eight.
I go to school at five to eight.
I go to home at two o´clock.
I have lunch at quarter past two.
I do my homework at three o´clock.
I go to extra school activities at five o´clock.

I play in the evening.
I have a bath at eight o´clock.
I have dinner at half past eight.
I brush my teeth at nine o´clock.
I watch TV at quarter past nine.
I go to bed at ten o´clock.

"My favourite fairy" by Danielly, 5B



HI CLASS!
THIS MY FAVOURITE FAIRY CALLED TINKERBELL.SHE´S WEARING A GREEN DRESS AND SHE HAD BLONDE HAIR.SHE LIVES IN THE FAIRY VALLEY.ROSETTE WAS ONE OF HER FRIENDS.DO YOU LIKE FAIRIES ?.WHAT IS YOU FAVOURITE FAIRY?.
IN THE PHOTO YOU CAN SEE TINKERBELL . THE VIDEO IS A SONG BY SELENA GOMEZ.
SEE YOU!.

SPRING! by Danielly, 5B



HI ,MATES!
THIS IS MY PHOTO IN SPRING.IT´S VERY COLORFUL.I LIKE FLOWERS .SPRING IS MY FAVOURITE SEASON BECAUSE EVERTHING IS COLORFUL AND EVERYBODY LOOKS HAPPY.
DO YOU LIKE SPRING? I HOPE YOU LIKE THE SPRING BECAUSE IS THE BEST SEASON.
BYEEEEE!
Welcome SPRING!

" My favourite sport" by Paula F, 5B


Hello!.
Which is your favourite sport?
My favourite sport is basketball. I play for a basketball team.My trainer is Marcos .I train at school. We´re in the eighth position in our league.I have to leave you I have to go to my training.I don´t like football.
This is my favourite player.He is Pau Gasol. He is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association(NBA). Click here and visit Pau Gasol Official website.

" My daily routine" by Paula F, 5B


Hello, friends!
This is my daily routine.
In the morning at eight o´clock I get up . At quarter past eight I get dressed and at half past eight I have breakfast.At quarter to nine I go to school.
In the afternoon at two o´clock I go home. At half past two I have lunch.At five o ´clock I do sport.
In the evening I have a shower and then I have dinner. At half past nine I go to bed.
This is my daily routine. SEE YOU TOMORROW!

ABC IN THE SEA

DAYS OF THE WEEK

MONTHS OF THE YEAR

SPRING IS HERE!




SEASONS

Match the months with the correct season:

Basement Jaxx - Red Alert (Jaxx Radio Mix) (1999)


Basement Jaxx - Red Alert (Jaxx Radio Mix) (1999)

Billy More - Boom, Boom! (Original Radio Mix) (2003)


Billy More - Boom, Boom! (Original Radio Mix) (2003)

Bizz Nizz - Don't Miss The Partyline (P. Neefs Remix) (2001)


Bizz Nizz - Don't Miss The Partyline (P. Neefs Remix) (2001)

Cher & Eros Ramazzotti - Piu Che Puoi (Eros Radio Mix) (2001)


Cher & Eros Ramazzotti - Piu Che Puoi (Eros Radio Mix) (2001)

Da Hool - Meet Her At The Love Parade (Edit) (1997)


Da Hool - Meet Her At The Love Parade (Edit) (1997)

David Morales Presents The Face - Needin' U (Radio Edit) (1998)


David Morales Presents The Face - Needin' U (Radio Edit) (1998)

Dj Mendez - Fiesta (House Party) (Cotagge Mix) (2001)


Dj Mendez - Fiesta (House Party) (Cotagge Mix) (2001)

Eiffel 65 - Cosa Restera (In a Song) (Radio Edit) (2002)


Eiffel 65 - Cosa Restera (In a Song) (Radio Edit) (2002)

Cadbury's Return of the Goo


Call me a dork, but I kind of love this catapult game from Cadbury, which allows you to "egg" any location in the world with a giant Creme Egg. All you have to do is enter the address into the little box of the main page, pull back the catapult, and then, wallah, watch as the egg flys through the air and splatters across your chosen target. The game uses Google Maps technology, so the effect is, somewhat, realistic. I picked my office building for my egging and let me tell you, seeing your place of work covered in Cadbury Egg goo, is especially hilarious, not to mention dreamy. Who wouldn't want their rooftop covered with candy?? Click here to start egging.

Big Canary

Where did I go this weekend? A strange place indeed. A German, English colony. A little slice of heaven for gays and nudists. Is Gran Canaria beautiful? Si, claro.

Flowers like fireworks line every street, parakeets flirt in the trees, mountains stand mightily and there is a desert. The sea is klein blue.

Gran Canaria makes you feel as if you are in a Martin Parr photograph, the National Geographic and the 90s.

If you like people watching, fry ups, dunes and the sun, Gran Canaria is the perfect place for you.

Local art.


Local gastronomy.



With an islander.



Hostiaquevistamásbonita.

Mywordhowgorgeous.

Phrase of the weekend:

'I shake the sand from my shorts' (to the tune of 'I whip my hair back and forth' by Willow Smith)

"My day " by Guillermo , 5C

Hi, A Coruña!.
This is my daily routine.At eight o´clock I get up and then I get dressed. At ten past eight I have breakfast. At a quarter past eight I make my bed and then I brush my teeth and I wash my face. At a quarter to nine I go to school and then I start school lessons. At half past eleven I play football at the break-time.At two o´clock I go home and then I have lunch with my family. At half past three I do my homework and I relax for a while. At five o´clock I go to sport activities. At six o´clock I have tea. At eight o´clock I have a shower and then I have dinner. At nine o´clock I watch television.Before going to bed I brush my teeth. At a quarter to ten I go to bed and I´ve got sweet dreams.

" My day " by Laura B, 5C

Hi cyberfriends! . This is my daily routine .
I wake up at eight o'clock but I get up at ten past ten . I have breakfast . I have a shower , later I get dressed . I make my bed . I wash my face and I comb my hair . I walk to school at nine o'clock , but on Friday I go to school by car . I start school lesons at three past nine . I study . I play at the break time at half past eleven . I go home at two o'clock . I have lunch at ten past two . I have a bath at ten to nine . Before going to bed I brush my teeth . On Tuesday I go to swimming classes . At the weekend I go to basketball classes . At eight o'clock I watch TV . At nine o'clock I go to bed .

This is my daily routine

"My wild animal" by Guillermo , 5C


Hi world!.
They are giraffes.They are big and they´ve got black spots and a long neck.They eat grass and leaves.They take the leaves of the trees.They don´t eat meat.They live in the savannah.Lions, zebras and vultures live in the savannah too.Lions eat them but giraffes don´t eat lions.They can run very fast.They can blow with their feet.They can´t swim.They like fight with their necks.Giraffes are the biggest earthbound animal.They´ve got horns .They´ve got big eyes.Bye!

" Disaster in Japan"


HELLO FRIENDS!
I want to talk about the disaster in Japan.There were affected by an earthquake and a tsunami.Earthquakes are very common in Japan because its position. But this was a very terrible earthquake . It was 8.9, a lot of people died. But there are more problems in Japan: at least four of the plant’s nuclear reactors are damaged at the Fukushima nuclear plant and there is a real nuclear alert.I want to send a solidarity message to Japanese people.

MY FAMILY

Breakfast #36: Savory Oatmeal

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I have been thinking about summer breakfasts lately. How could I not with the sun blazing and the mercury rising as it is nowadays? Despite the heat (and my sunburn…when will I ever learn??) and my love/hate relationship with the mornings, the season’s buoyant personality seems to be cheering me on. And I’m determined to have breakfasts that are just as bright and sunny.

But that will have to wait until I’m done with this.

This is not the most summery of breakfasts but I have been seeing this all over and, as a lover of both breakfast and oatmeal, I had to try it and couldn’t wait. A good friend I met though blogging alerted me to this intriguing version and it’s been on my mind ever since. So despite the sun streaming its rays of Pollyanna through my window and the optimistic patch of blue sky I see from my window, I set about creating my first ever bowl of savory oatmeal.

The idea isn’t as novel as one would think. In some cultures oatmeal is savory, enjoyed with a pat of butter and some salt. We, of all people, shouldn’t raise an eyebrow. Over here, we have chocolate rice pudding (champorado) with dried salted fish – now that’s a combination you don’t see every day. On the whole though, oatmeal has always leaned more decidedly towards sweet preparations. So for me the idea of it was new and luscious and very enticing.

For this my first foray, I wanted to stick to the basics: good olive oil, flaky sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and shavings of parmesan cheese. I was sorely (sorely!) tempted to add a fried egg but I held myself back. (Time enough for that later.)

This is hardly a recipe, and really, I suggest you go with your favorite basic recipe for oatmeal (I usually go with 1/2 cup of oats and 1 1/2 cup of water -- this will make me two servings). I used steel cut oats here because I felt the texture would lend itself well to savory preparation (although I am sure rolled oats would be good as well). What is key here is that you use the best possible ingredients you can find. I know, when is that ever not key right? Well, in this case more than others as there are so few ingredients so each is a major player. Now place one serving of hot oatmeal in your favorite cuddle bowl. Top with a couple of swirls of olive oil, a sprinkling of sea salt flakes, a grinding of black pepper, and generous shavings of parmesan cheese. Now tuck in and prepare to be converted. I suggest keeping the condiments near because you may want to adjust as you work through you bowl. I definitely like adding more parmesan at some point.

This is really all that they say it is. It is silky in a way regular oatmeal hardly is. It feels decadent when it is in fact so simple. And the sudden bits of saltiness cutting through the creamy oatmeal feels at once pleasantly confusing and, as Golidilock said, just right. I’ll be making this again. Yes, even if it’s summer. I’m still thinking of that fried egg…and maybe some browned butter.

Don’t worry. I won't be spending the whole summer churning out oatmeal on the stovetop. We just got a box of our favorite mangoes so those summer breakfasts will be making their appearance here soon!

UPDATE: If you can't decide between sweet or savory why not try both? Honey bacon steel cut oats :)

"My day " by Marta, 5A


MY DAILY ROUTINE
I get up at seven o'clock.
I have a shower at quarter past seven.
I get dressed at quarter to eight.
I have breakfast at eight o'clock.
I go to school at half past eight.
I go home at two o'clock.
I have lunch at three o'clock.
I watch TV at four o'clock.
I go to extra activities at five or six o'clock.
I go home at seven o'clock.
I study at quarter past seven.
I have tea at half past eight.
I go to bed at ten o'clock.

" Lions " by Alejandro, 5A


This is my post about wild animals. They are lions.
These animals live in the savannah.Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. Highly distinctive, the male lion is easily recognized by its mane, and its face is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture.

" My great day " by Alejandro, 5A


This is my daily routine.
I get up at eigth o`clock.
I have breakfast at quater past eight.
I wash my face at twenty five past eight.
I get dressed at half past eight.
I go to school at quater to nine.
I go home at two o`clock.
I do my homework at four o`clock.
I go to the park at six o`clock.
I have dinner at nine o`clock.
I go to bed at half past ten.
And that´s all for today.

"My pet " by Iago Ramos, 5 B

This is my pet.
His name is Songo.
He's hairy, strong and fast.
He´s got a big nose and big ears.
He´s got a long tail and he is fat.
He´s got four legs.
He likes nibble and tennis ball.
He sleeps for 15 hours a day.
He doesn´t like swimming in the spring.
He likes going to the wood.
He´s my favourite pet.
He´s brown and black.
He likes sleeping.
He doesn´t like having a bath.
He lives in my house.
He comes from Germany.
He likes running in the park.
He isn´t a dangerous dog.

EARTH HOUR 2011

Earth Hour is a message of hope and action. Imagine what we can do if we act together.
Think about your planet and switch off the lights, please!


Eyes Cream - Fly Away (Bye Bye) (Radio Oooooooh Edit) (1999)


Eyes Cream - Fly Away (Bye Bye) (Radio Oooooooh Edit) (1999)

Galleon - So I Begin (2001)


Galleon - So I Begin (2001)

George Michael & Mary J. Blige - As (Maurice's Millennium Mix) (1999)


George Michael & Mary J. Blige - As (Maurice's Millennium Mix) (1999)

Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up (Metro Mix) (1999)


Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up (Metro Mix) (1999)

Geri Halliwell - Ride It (Hex Hector Radio Edit) (2004)


Geri Halliwell - Ride It (Hex Hector Radio Edit) (2004)

Hysteric Ego - Want Love (Original Mix) (1996)


Hysteric Ego - Want Love (Original Mix) (1996)

Js 16 - Stomp To My Beat (Radio Edit) (1997)


Js 16 - Stomp To My Beat (Radio Edit) (1997)

M2M - Everything You Do (Groove Brothers Radio Mix) (2000)


M2M - Everything You Do (Groove Brothers Radio Mix) (2000)