Mango Chutney!

I was flip-flopping between chutney or pickle, but went with chutney because the recipe seemed to have the nicest spices... I found it on this website:

http://www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com/

preserve-pickle-jamaican-zest/

It smelled wonderful while simmering, even though it didn't look that nice necessarily. 

One or two of the mangoes I purchased were on the sour side, but I'm hoping that all of the tamarind, raisin and date sweeten them up. 

Normally I wouldn't mind too much except that these particular preserves have a destiny to fulfil. There is a woman named Cassandra who works at a store that I often find myself at. 90% of the time that I'm there I am cranky, distracted and hangry. Until I see her! 

She embodies what ALL customer service agents everywhere in the world should aspire to be. She is not just delightful, she's helpful! She knows where everything is, has a smile that's contagious and an energy that can permeate any amount of negative funk. I now find myself looking for her while I'm there. 

I may have promised her mango pickle, not mango chutney, but somehow I suspect she'll forgive me. 

Ta-Daaaaaaaaa!!!!!

Vegan Mango Cupcakes...

Or should I say, my competition! Good grief. No sooner did these come out of the oven than my better half (a mango fiend) came slobbering.

I iced a hot cupcake (tsk tsk, I know) and watched her devour it amongst a sea of grunts and groans. At one point she even scraped the wrapper on her teeth grasping for one last taste. 

I think they're a hit! 

Here is them in their naked glory...

And iced...

I really need to work on my "finishing" skills. I fucking hate the work that is required for proper icing. Even filling a ziplock and piping it annoys me. Why does this have to be so complicated? As you can see I use the "smash on icing with a spatula" method. Works for me!

Also. I wish I had the ability to make 24 cupcakes at a time. 12 seems so insufficient for the amount of people I'd like to share with. 

I believe that's what we like to call "First World Problems". 

Recipe Link:

http://www.holycowvegan.net/2009/11/mango-cupcakes-with-mango-buttercream.html?m=1