27 Jun 2011

MANGO PIES

Mango season in the Caribbean has arrived!  And today was the Mango Melee festival on St Croix.  My hubby and I take this season very seriously! The first summer we dated, every weekend for the season consisted of mango hunting adventures around the island.  Each weekend we collected a bin or two.  A full bin held atleast 100 mangoes or more (we counted).  We must have collected eight or more bins.  We were almost sick of them.  We gave a bunch away to friends, cut, ate and froze a ton, and even tried smuggling a bunch with us stateside for family (only to have customs find & throw them away - so sad!!).   We put mangoes on everything; salads, cereal, ice cream, sauces, pies...or best just plain.
Here are a couple pie recipes I whipped up before leaving to go to the festival.  Every year at the festival is a competition and this was the first year I made it in time to try the winning dishes.  Next year I might enter.

Mango Tart
Ready made crust (I used graham cracker crust or any other will do)
3-4 med mangoes
1 small box of instant pudding
2 large eggs
1 cup of milk
Cut up mangoes in slivers and place in a pinwheel design.  In a blender, mix eggs, milk & pudding.  Pour pudding mixture over mangoes to the top of dish.  Bake at 375 until lightly browned and puffed up.  Pie will settle when cooled, refrigerate to serve chilled or serve warm.
Mango Crisp
3-4 med mangoes
2 eggs
1 cup of milk
1 box of instant pudding mix
For crumb topping mix
1 instant oatmeal mix (like natural maple flavor) 
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 stick of melted butter.
Arrange sliced mangoes in pie dish.  Mix eggs, milk & pudding in blender then pour over mangoes.  Add melted butter to flour & oatmeal packet.  Sprinkle crumb mixture over mangoes.  Bake at 375 until the top is lightly browned, about 30 minutes or less. Enjoy!
**If you don't have mangoes, no worries, this is great with fresh peaches and/or berries***