Chutney Sandwich and Strawberry Mango Lemonade

Hello summer! A long one for sure, living in a land that unquestionably has four seasons- tolerable, hot, very hot and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? This is our first official summer in a state now considered our new home, where every other day carries a precautionary heat watch. In this triple digit heat, we've been told not to complain, to weather it out (no pun intended) and be careful, because, now hot water comes out of both taps.

Though the season is such , it is undoubtedly the most fun too. Barbecues, pool parties and iced, drippy, treats - everyday remedies in keeping sane entertained through incendiary circumstances.

On those days when the air conditioning inside competes vehemently with the inane mugginess outside,   the "no cooking in my kitchen"signage comes handy and works quite well, especially with this no fuss fare.

Sandwiches and lemonade, the stuff picnics are made of. It will leave you happy and content. Your children will call out super mom. The reason? You have squeezed out a no- fuss, delightfully easy spread in, literally, a matter of minutes. 

Emerald and coral might soon become your favorite colors. The green in the sandwich comes from nicely melded, crushed leaves. Cilantro and mint team up to make a mean and totally revivifying bread spread.

Coral, being not only the du jour shade of the now, also is the color of this thirst quenching and  refreshing drink. Lemons, strawberries, pureed mango fizzed with some carbonation blend into a core of fruited up nectar.

I won't go on. The time it takes you to read through my sequence would be about the same span it requires in snapping up this simple, somewhat healthy summer bite. Halve that, and you'll have understood the stretch it took my kids to ingest a substantial number of chutney sandwiches and 2 ginormous jugs of strawberry mango lemonade. 

Even if your summer does not reach the swelteringly uncomfortable heights as mine does, you can still whip up these sandwiches and whirl up the lemonade. As for me, I will make the most of the season, cooking and experimenting, except maybe not in the kitchen. Instead, I might utilize the platform of some scorchingly useful asphalt.

Chutney Sandwich~

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (if frozen, thaw)
• *2 cups chopped cilantro, washed and clean
• 2-3 sprigs mint leaves, cleaned and roughly chopped
• 1/2 inch piece ginger
• 1-2 jalapenos or serranos
• *1/2 tsp tamarind paste or juice of half lemon
• 1 1/2 tsp salt or enough to flavor
• * Butter, cheese slices, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes (optional)
• *Slices of white bread

Method:

• In a blender, using the  grind option, grind all the ingredients(from coconut to salt) until a thick, semi- chunky, ground mixture is formed.
• Spread chutney onto bread (butter the slices if you wish) If using optional fillers, place onto bread  and sandwich two slices together . Repeat for the desired number of sandwiches.
• Cut into shapes using cookie cutters or knife off edges.

Strawberry Mango Lemonade ~

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh lemon juice 
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• *1/2 cup mango puree
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled
• 2 cups club soda
• Ice

Method:

• In a blender, blend ingredients from lemon juice to mango puree, until blended well and sugar dissolves.
• Once blended, add strawberries into jar. Pulse until strawberries are cut down a bit but still remain chunky .
• Pour into pitcher or glasses.
• Add club soda and ice. Stir.
• Serve with a garnish of mint, strawberries, lemon or have it plain.

Notes: 

Cilantro is also known as coriander leaves, hence the name of the chutney is actually coriander leaf chutney.

If you don't have tamarind, substitute with half a lemon.

For a heartier sandwich, you can use fillings of your choice. Here, I've spread butter in some and squeezed a slice of cheese in others.

White bread, Hawaiian bread are excellent with this chutney. I use the white whole wheat bread for a healthier option.

No need to puree fresh mangoes, canned works and taste fine here.

Note*** I need to mention that this particular recipe was mentioned in a 2015 Scoop Whoop editorial. Click the link below:
13 Delicious Dishes you can Whip up in 5 Minutes or Less

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 HE said not to worry, so don't ~

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)