Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

🍴 Papaya lime smoothie: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

• 
  🟢Blend ripe papaya with fresh lime juice, a splash of coconut water, and ice.
• 🟢Super refreshing and naturally creamy, no dairy needed.

🛒 Pick a perfect Papaya variety for your yard

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Papaya

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🍴 Katuk egg stir-fry: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

• 
  🟢Saute chopped Katuk leaves (Sauropus androgynus) with garlic and a touch of soy sauce
• 🟢Shen scramble in eggs.
• 🟢Fast, simple, healthy, and full of flavor!

🛒 Add healthy Katuk to your perennial vegetable garden

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🍴 Mango chili salt bites: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

• 🟡Slice ripe mango into wedges.
• 🟡Sprinkle lightly with chili powder, salt, and a squeeze of lime.
• 🟡Sweet, spicy, salty, tangy - all in one bite!

🛒 Explore Mango varieties

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Mango

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🍴 Avocado cacao mousse: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

• 🟢Blend ripe avocado with cocoa powder, honey, and a splash of vanilla.
• 🟢Chill and serve like chocolate pudding.
• 🟢Nobody will guess the secret ingredient!
• 🟢Healthy and tasty!

🛒 For all-home-grown ingredients you will need:
Avocado tree fruit
Chocolate tree fruit
Vanilla Orchid Beans

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Avocado

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🍒 Cocoplum: secret fruit in your hedge

• 🍒 Most people think Cocoplum is just a boring hedge plant: Bahamas Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco). Thick, green, easy to trim - great for privacy. But hidden in all that greenery? Super-sweet plum-like fruit that are edible and very tasty! They look like small plums and come in pink, purple, or white when ripe.
• 🍒 Cocoplum is native to Florida and has been quietly feeding people for generations, long before it became a landscaping go-to. The fruit is mild, a little sweet, and great for snacking or making into jam.
• 🍒 Cocoplum isn't just a tasty surprise - it comes with some health perks too:

▫️Rich in antioxidants - especially anthocyanins, which give the purple fruit its color and help fight free radicals in the body.

• ▫️Good source of fiber - helps with digestion and keeping you full.
• ▫️Contains vitamin C - supports your immune system and skin health.
• ▫️Low in calories - great for snacking without guilt.
• ▫️So when you bite into a Cocoplum, you're not just tasting Florida - you're getting a little wellness boost too.

🍯 Quick Cocoplum Jam:

• 🔸2 cups ripe Cocoplums
• 🔸1 cup sugar
• 🔸1 cup water*
• 🔸1 tbsp lemon juice
• 🔸Mash it all up, cook on low 20-30 minutes until thick. Cool and enjoy!

*To make a delicious summer drink, add 10 cups of water and just get to boil. Let sit 2 hrs, mash up, drain fruit and cool to enjoy.

So next time you walk by a Cocoplum hedge, check for fruit. There might be a free snack waiting for you!

🛒 Get your edible hedge Cocoplum: privacy with perks

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How to make chocolate dumplings in mango sauce: exotic recipe

Ready to sneak this onto your dessert menu under a name like "Tropics Lost in Vienna"?

Ingredients

• 🔸 For the dough:

• 200 g (1 ½ cups) all-purpose flour

• • 1 egg
• • 3 tbsp water
• • Pinch of salt

• 🔸 For the filling:

• 70 g (2.5 oz) dark chocolate

• • 3 tbsp heavy cream
• • 1 tsp cocoa powder (optional)
• • 1 tsp sugar (if chocolate is too bitter)

🔸 For the mango sauce:

• • 1 ripe mango (or 150 g mango puree)
• • 100 ml (just under ½ cup) heavy cream
• • 1-2 tsp honey
• • 1 tsp lime or lemon juice
• • Pinch of salt

🔪 Instructions

• ➡Make the dough: Mix flour, egg, water, and salt into a soft dough. Knead, wrap, and rest for 30 minutes.
• ➡Prepare the filling: Melt chocolate with cream over a water bath. Stir in sugar and cocoa if using. Let cool until thick.
• ➡Shape the dumplings: Roll out dough, cut into circles, fill with chocolate, and seal. Freeze for 10 minutes to firm up.
• ➡Cook: Boil in lightly salted water. Once they float, cook 2–3 minutes more. Lift out gently.
• ➡Make the mango sauce: Blend mango, then stir in cream, honey, citrus juice, and salt. Warm gently without boiling.
• ➡Serve: Arrange dumplings, spoon over sauce, and garnish with mint or lime zest if desired.

🛒 Plant your own Mango Tree and always have mango supply

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Mango

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🍌 Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!

• 
  🍹 Banana Daiquiri Recipe Ingredients:

• · 1 ripe banana
• · 2 ounces light rum
• · 1 tablespoon sugar
• · 1 ounce lime juice
• · 1/2 ounce triple sec (optional for added depth)
• · Ice cubes
• · Slice of lime or banana for garnish

• 🍹Instructions:

• · Prepare the Banana: Peel the banana and cut it into chunks.
• · Blend the Ingredients: In a blender, combine the banana chunks, light rum, sugar, lime juice, and triple sec.
• · Add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
• · If the mixture is too thick, you can add a small amount of water or more lime juice to adjust the consistency.

🍹Garnish and Serve:

• 
  · Pour the mixture into a chilled glass. Garnish with a slice of lime on the rim of the glass or a small wheel of banana. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing tropical flavors!
• · This Banana Daiquiri is not only refreshing but also offers a creamy texture and a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus. It's a fantastic choice for hot days or when you're in the mood for something a bit exotic. Cheers!

📚 About Banana from previous posts:

• 💋Top Ornamental Banana Varieties - Which One Belongs in Your Garden?
• 💋Best Edible Bananas to Grow - Sweet, Unique, and Delicious!
• 💋How Many Banana Varieties Can You Grow? (More Than You Think!)
• 💋Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #5 Banana growing and fun facts
• 💋How to make tasty Carambola Banana Whip
• 💋Why Bananas? They are good for you and are fun to grow
• 💋Bananas help you feel fuller and enhance your mood

🛒 Banana Bliss Starts Here

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❤️ Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings

• 
  Ingredients:

• · 1 large ripe mango, peeled and finely chopped
• · cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese (use ricotta for a smoother texture or cottage cheese for a more textured filling)
• · 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust based on the sweetness of the mango)
• · 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• · 1 package of wonton wrappers
• · Water, for sealing the wrappers
• · Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
• · Butter or oil, for frying

• Instructions:


Prepare the Filling:
In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped mango, ricotta or cottage cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Assemble the Dumplings:

· Lay out the wonton wrappers on a clean surface. Spoon about one tablespoon of the mango-cheese mixture into the center of each wrapper.

• · Dip your finger in water and run it along the edges of the wrapper to moisten them. This helps seal the dumplings.
• · Bring the edges of the wrapper together to form a triangle or purse, making sure to expel any air pockets as you seal the edges firmly.


Cook the Dumplings:
• · For Frying: Heat butter or oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the dumplings and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
• · For Steaming: If you prefer a healthier option, you can steam the dumplings. Place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for about 10-15 minutes or until the wrappers are translucent.

Serve:

Serve the dumplings warm. Dust with powdered sugar if desired for a sweet finish.

Optional Sauce:
You can serve these dumplings with a simple dipping sauce made by mixing some honey with a splash of lime juice. This adds a zesty contrast to the sweet and creamy filling.

These mango and cheese dumplings are a creative twist on traditional dessert dumplings, bringing together flavors that are both refreshing and comforting. Enjoy your cooking!

🛒 Plant your own Mango Tree and always have mango supply

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Mango

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⭐️ Carambola Jam recipe

😁 Ingredients:

• 
  · 4 ripe carambolas, washed and thinly sliced
• · 1 cup granulated sugar
• · 1/2 cup water
• · Juice of 1 lemon
• · 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)

📞 Instructions:

• 
  · In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• · Add the sliced carambola and ground ginger. Reduce heat and simmer for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit softens and the mixture thickens.
• · Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then transfer to sterilized jars.
• · Refrigerate and enjoy on toast, with yogurt, or as a glaze for meats.

🎁 This simple yet unusual jam highlights carambola’s unique star shape and tangy-sweet flavor! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

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⭐️ When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe

😁 Ingredients:

• · 2 ripe Carambola (starfruit), finely diced
• · 1 small red bell pepper, diced
• · 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• · 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
• · 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• · Juice of 1 lime
• · 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
• · Pinch of salt

📞 Instructions:

• · Combine the diced carambola, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl.
• · Add lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
• · Chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
• · Serve with tortilla chips, grilled fish, or as a topping for tacos.

🎁 This recipe balances carambola's sweet-tart flavor with a spicy kick! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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