Baby Fruit

The rainy season is finally over and summer is in full swing here in El Salvador. That means scorching heat, dust everywhere, and sweating all the time. However, it also means that the arrival of good fruit is just around the corner.

Right now my backyard is littered with baby mangoes that fall off the tree when the wind blows hard. In a few more weeks they'll be big enough to start eating. Since fruit in the US is only sold when it is ripe, Americans don't know about the joy of green mangoes. I LOVE green mangoes. They are hard and acidic. Once the mango gets to full size, but before it turns orange, you peel off the skin and cut it into slices, or shred it. Sprinkle on a little salt, maybe some vinegar and hot sauce and enjoy! Soon after green mango season passes, the rest of the mangoes will be ripe and ready to eat! It's not unusual for me to eat 3-4 a day!

(Baby mangoes)

I'm also excited that my lime tree is starting to flower. It was new when I arrived, so we didn't have limes my first year. Last year the tree produced some, and I took full advantage. Limes go in everything! This year the tree is flowering out of control. After the flowers bloom, itty-bitty limes start to grow. Soon they will be big and juicy and ready for consumption. I love lime season! I usually have so many extras that I pick them and give them away to my favorite ladies, who in exchange feed me many, many delicious meals!

(Really little limes.)

(A little bit bigger limes.)