A Basket of Mangoes Goes a Long Way
PREDA, a non-profit foundation in the Philippines, was set up by Irish
Columban priest Shay Cullen 26 years ago to promote human rights and
justice.
One aspect of its work is assistance to small farmers, who, supported
by PREDA, now grow exportable fruit, particularly mangoes.
PREDA dried mangoes are available in the UK and Ireland at Waitrose,
Sainsbury's and Dunnes supermarkets.
Dried mangoes are a mineral-packed, chemical-free food; but they are more
than this.
According to Fr Cullen: 'The marketing of 100% fair traded dried
mangoes brings the direct benefits of higher prices and social benefits to
many poor farmers in the Philippines.
They can keep their families together in the villages, their children going
to school, and as a result the migration to the cities and abroad is greatly
reduced. This kind of project
keeps the poor out of the city slums and the children off the streets where
they are vulnerable to abduction into the sex trade.
Fair trade is more than buying and selling products for fair prices, it
means that we oppose unfair practices and exploitation of the poor and
campaign for social justice."
Fr Cullen suggests that a basket of dried mangoes would be an appropriate
Easter gift to friends. Further
details of the work of PREDA can be found on its webpage: www.preda.org
What about using the following recipe for a special Easter Sunday
ice-cream, using dried mangoes and eggs?
Dried Mango Ice Cream
100g sun-dried mango
1 cup white wine or tropical fruit juice
3 eggs separated
140g castor sugar
1/2 pint double cream lightly whipped
Using enough liquid to cover the fruit, first soak your mango in white
wine, or, for a non-alcoholic version, in a tropical fruit juice. After 1/2 hour of soaking, pur6e fruit with soaking liquid.
Whisk egg whites until stiff, then whisk in 70g of castor sugar Whisk
cream. Then using a large bowl,
whisk the egg yolk and remaining 70g of castor sugar until thick.
Then add the pur6e of mangoes.
Then fold in the whipped cream and finally the egg whites.
Freeze for about 1-2 hours until semifrozen, remove from freezer and
re-whip to remove ice crystals.
Freeze solid.
LENT EXTRA
A Redemptory Publication in the U.K.
