Mango and Peach Salsa + Oven-Baked Pork Chops

A couple of days ago I experienced a “first.”  I’ve had mangoes on my mind for a few weeks now.  Likely because, by nature, I always seem to be thinking about food in general – or maybe it’s because of the beautiful summer season and with it we are enjoying  all of the fresh fruit and produce that comes our way.  Whatever the cause, I put together a simple mango salsa and the very first thing that entered my mind after tasting it was, “Why haven’t I done this before….?”

I remember my first taste of mango.  I was in second grade and a classmate of mine whose dad was a native of the Philippines brought in a couple of the sweet and tropical fruit with their big pits in the center.   I distinctly recall not being impressed one way or the other, at the time.  It was unlike any fruit I had tasted before, not offensive by any means but still rather intriguing, I suppose.

In any case, mangoes became better known to me later on in life.  Through the years, I have tasted ice cream made with them, juices flavored by them, and on occasion found them in salads that I might be enjoying. However, mangoes really became more prominent to me with the occurrence of a couple of other events in my life.  First there was the discovery of this fruit by my foodie-son, Isaiah, who was probably 3 years of age when he fell in love with this fruit.  Even today, at the ripe old age of 9, mention the word mango to Isaiah and he stops everything, always trying to find the angle that will bring the fruit to him in the most expeditious manner.

About the same time I began an ongoing love affair with the people and land of Costa Rica, a tropical paradise laden with rainforests, pristine beaches, volcanoes, and mango trees.  The ticos (people of Costa Rica) have a diet filled with beautiful and delicious fresh fruits of all kinds, mangoes frequently being principle.  It is in the rainforest of Manuel Antonio, near the fishing town of Quepos, where I truly fell in love with the mango.

 

 Peaches and mangoes, has there ever been a more suitable match?

The next thing that ultimately led to the incorporation of pork chops into this post was a welcomed but unexpected rains shower that arrived at our little lake cottage late on Sunday afternoon.  My intention was to grill some nice chops and serve them up to the boy with fresh sweet corn and salad, but once again I found myself switching gears slightly, this time because of the light but steady rain.  Undaunted by the rain, I did a quick pan sear of the chops which I had seasoned earlier in the day, and then finished them off in the oven.  By this time, there was mango and peach salsa aplenty and I realized that destiny had brought all of these delicious components together on this rainy, summer Sunday afternoon.  My intuition served me well.   Jake, our 16  year old and most candid food critic, enthusiastically proclaimed this to be an excellent meal.  When I get that from him, I know I’ve done alright.