Arroz con Mango or When the Cupboard is Bare

[Pontormo]

This topic is somewhat related to a recent thread on Weird Food Combinations.

It is an homage to Kathy and Clancey, co-founders of the E. F. Glutton Society of Ann Arbor, who came up with the idea even if "Arroz con Mango" is neither their invention, nor exclusively a culinary topic as fans of salsa music know.

However, when they were in graduate school, they came home quite late and discovered that all they had in the fridge was a single mango. There was rice in the cupboard, so they put the two together and called it dinner.

Would have been better with chicken, with the mango served in a salsa on the side, but no time, no money, and now the refrigerator was bare.

Things are better for them nowadays far from the midwest, but the tradition endures. Whenever they, or the rest of the disbanded cooking group combine odds and ends of leftovers and the one last spoonful of sour cream, we call the dish Arroz con Mango.

Yesterday, for example, I defrosted a little bit of the eggplant leftover from a pseudo-tagine (9/15/05) and the last quarter pound of ground beef. There was less than a teaspoon of minced fresh chilies on one shelf along with half a cup of a thick tomato sauce. I didn't use up all the baby bok choy on Monday. There was one left. They all ended up together along with minced garlic and olive oil, served over brown rice. Homemade hamburger helper, I suppose. Nothing I'd serve Daniel, but not as bad as the disasters some of us post. At least I didn't add that egg yolk that is still sitting in a small jar.

You?

[Carrot Top]

When the children come home in about half an hour, it is going to be just the time to make our own version of arroz con mango.

Today it will be several pounds of frozen shrimp (defrosted, silly) quickly sauteed in a bit of olive oil then tossed with half a container of "Jack's Special Salsa" and simmered briefly with the bit of heavy cream that is in the carton.

Served with half a baguette I threw into the freezer the other day.

If they are good, that is. If they are bad, then I will have to chase them around hitting them on their heads with that frozen baguette, now won't I.

[PPPans]

Arroz con mango... sounds so Southeast Asian or at least Filipino. A bit off the intent of this thread but I thought I'd just mention how eating fruits with plain rice is very common in the Philippines. Earlier I thought it was just an annoying habit of my grandmother but when I asked around it seems to be very normal. So there's arroz con watermelon, arroz con banana, hehehe!

Then of course there's mango with suman...

[Pontormo]

Yes, arroz con mango is a real dish. Some Italians put strawberries and balsamic vinegar in risotto, though, I have never had the urge to try it.

Sorry if the name chosen for mish-mash food sounds provincial. Kathy & Clancy actually lived in places such as Hawaii and Japan before moving to the midwest. It's just that, for them, rice and mango was neither typical fare nor much of a dinner.

[SuzySushi]

My cupboard has never been bare, thank the spirits, but last night's dinner for three was a "clean out the freezer" combination of odds and ends of leftovers in plastic containers: some pasta sauce with clams and green olives (??? -- I don't even remember making that dinner), another pasta sauce with eggplant and mushrooms, frozen leftover "naked" whole-wheat spaghetti, frozen leftover rigatoni, four small breakfast sausages, and a previously grilled hamburger crumbled into the sauces, all sprinkled with some grated Parmesan cheese. Not bad, all things considered!!!

[rooftop1000]

My cupboard has never been bare, thank the spirits, but last night's dinner for three was a "clean out the freezer" combination of odds and ends of leftovers in plastic containers: some pasta sauce with clams and green olives (??? -- I don't even remember making that dinner), another pasta sauce with eggplant and mushrooms, frozen leftover "naked" whole-wheat spaghetti, frozen leftover rigatoni, four small breakfast sausages, and a previously grilled hamburger crumbled into the sauces, all sprinkled with some grated Parmesan cheese. Not bad, all things considered!!!

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hey we had that too last night actually we had choices ranging from leftover ...spaghatti in garlic oil, fried pork chop, roast chicken, pierogies or hot dogs. I had pork chop and spaghetti, himself had hot dogs and pierogies, I guess he will have the chicken for lunch Saturday...I am going out

tracey

[Carrot Top]

It is always a surprise to discover how very much of "nothing" there is in the cupboard.

Today was the day to sort out the fridge. I didn't think there was anything in there.

But your idea gave me hope.

A whole lotta nothing was there.

Some bacon and a chunk of parmesan with a bit of parsley, eggs, and some pasta = pasta carbonara.

Pork ribs that had been slow cooked then frozen because of something or other, plus half a head of cabbage and a knob of ginger, some garlic, soy sauce, etc. = potstickers.

Two lone carrots, some frozen peas, half a green and half a red pepper and the end bit of a head of celery with one chicken breast and some rice and spices = curried chicken and veggies (with rice).

Sweet "nothings".

(No, won't eat them all at once.)

[Pontormo]

The potstickers are inspired!

Today was the farmer's market. End of grocery shopping and no more arroz con mango again till Friday night.

However, this is starting to remind me of a game played by Lynne Rossetto Kasper during her show on NPR. Callers itemize the contents of their refrigerators and then ask the host to limit herself to their list in creating a meal that sounds appetizing despite the lengths they go to challenge her.

Edited November 14, 2005 by Pontormo (log)

[wattacetti]

Quoting Homer (Simpson): "… You gotta improvise, Lisa: cloves, Tom Collins mix, frozen pie crust …"

But I digress.