That’s what I learned this week. The mangoes at the grocery store were looking a little funky, so I scanned the produce section for something–anything!–that I could use instead. Cantaloupe! Cantaloupe will work! Because it’s soft! Also, it’s orange!
Israeli Couscous with Mango Cantaloupe, Cucumber & Cilantro // No, cantaloupe won’t work. At first, I thought, “Hey, this isn’t too bad!” But then I got to the last few bites and started feeling a little queasy. It’s a nice cold salad to have for lunch though, so I’m going to try it again when I can find decent mangoes.
Sweet Potato Stacks with Crispy Sage Leaves // I love sweet potatoes! I decided to make this recipe again because I have lots of sage growing in the garden.
Chili Garlic Long Beans // This is what I did with the long beans I wrote about earlier this week. I guess they made less than I thought they would, but that’s okay! They were good. I sauteed them in a little oil and added chili garlic sauce and ginger sea salt.
Beer Barbecued Tofu // Beer and tofu, together at last! After taking this photo, I decided to make sandwiches with the tofu and grilled Vidalia onions. I had to add a little extra barbecue sauce, but the sandwiches were delicious!
Spicy Sesame Eggplant // We were not crazy about this. I think it would be better with a tad less lime juice.
Rainier Cherries // Oh, hi, best cherries ever! I wait all summer for when Rainier cherries are on sale. Because they are expensive when they’re full price!
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I hate when the grocery store doesn’t have what you need and you’re forced to make a last minute substitution .. I can’t even think of what a better replacement for mango would have been .. peaches maybe? That’s a tough one!
I thought about peaches too. I considered everything, really! I probably should have just gone to another store…
Looks good mama! Have a great weekend!
Thank you! And I hope you have a great weekend too.
I love rainier cherries – actually I love just about any kind of cherries! Glad I’m not the only one who thinks you can substitute an ingredient based on color! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve done something like that!
Normally I’m pretty good about figuring out substitutions, but I was off my game this week. Way off.
I’m leaving to go get more Rainer cherries in a few minutes because we polished off the huge bag I bought 2 days ago. They are soooo good! Maybe you could put them in your salad. Ha ha. No, don’t.
I thought about putting cherries in it! Cherries or pluots, since I had both of them at home. They probably wouldn’t have been any worse than the cantaloupe…
I love tofu. Even though I eat meat, I still love it if it’s prepared well. Those tofu haters are missing out.
I’m picky about tofu because so often, it isn’t prepared well. Like if it’s not pressed long enough? No thanks.
Incidentally, I made a variation of this recipe for dinner tonight with your Stout & Sriracha Barbecue Sauce. Amaaaaazing.
I want that tofu!
Also I just wanted to let you know I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award.
Check out the details @thesweetlife.
Love your site!
You need to make that tofu then!
It’s such a good summer meal. Thanks for the award–will head on over to check it out!
I hate when that happens!! Then I always end up frantically searching through 3 different grocery stores and have a panic attack until I find what I need. (story of my life!)
I love rainier cherries too, they are so good.
Yeah, what I didn’t say in the post was that this was actually the second time I went to get a mango for this recipe–the first time, I bought two and both of them were brown inside when I cut them open at home. So gross!
The Beer Barbecued Tofu sound really interesting.
The sweet potato stacks look SO good!
Definitely have to try the BBQ beer tofu as well.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you! Yes, the tofu is awesome–you need to make it before grilling season is over! Hope you have a great weekend too!
I love the idea of turning the grilled tofu into sandwiches! And I’ve pinned those sweet potato stacks- they look amazing.
Thank you for posting the recipe on your blog!
I made a variation of it for dinner again tonight, so it’s definitely a hit. And I’m really picky about tofu!
Wow this all looks amazing! Beautiful pictures!!
Thank you!
Check out this site about Stubbs and you will know how special the bbq sauce you used was for the Beer Barbecued Tofu. Love Stubbs sauce. http://stubbsaustin.com/about-stubbs/
Israeli Couscous with (Mango) Cantaloupe, Cucumber & Cilantro…love Mango and I could see how the cantaloupe would not taste as good. I am goofy enough to even try this recipe with orange sections???
Sweet Potato Stacks with Crispy Sage Leaves….to die for!
Thanks for the link to the Stubbs website! I had no idea about the backstory–we just really like that brand of sauce.
And we go through barbecue sauce like water!
I think orange sections would be preferable to cantaloupe in that salad. It was just too weird together! And of course, I went to the same grocery store today and they had a big display of perfect mangoes…
Oh…I so wish we lived near, I could’ve given you some off our tree! I agree I think peach probably been the best substitute for mango -but it is hard to compare the tangy tropical flavor…maybe papaya?
I was thinking papaya! But those were looking a little off too. I am so jealous of people who live in climates where they can grow mangoes!
I want to come eat at your house for a week. Just one and I’ll even do dishes.
I have done the potato stacks with Yukon gold potatoes but never with sweet. I will be trying that.
DEAL. That’s the agreement I have with my husband–I cook, he does the dishes. But sometimes I think he regrets agreeing to that.
I need to hire you as my personal chef! Your food looks so good!
Well, if I worked as a personal chef, I’m sure I’d get fired after substituting cantaloupe for mango in that salad–it was kind of gross.
Nice eating this week
I’m going to try the sweet potato stacks. I’ve done them with russets, so I can imagine just how good the stacks are with sweet potatoes.
I really need to try doing them with regular potatoes–I’ve only done the sweet ones!
I love what you ate this week…healthy and delectable.
marvelous, isn’t it!
Stone fruits are in season, maybe some peaches or nectarine would be great too.
I see those long purple red beans again
Enjoy your Sunday!
Thank you! And yes, you will probably be seeing those beans a lot for the next month or so. I have so many of them growing! I’m going to have to come up with some more ideas for them…
I will be trying those sweet potato stacks! Yummy!
I hope you like them!
YUM!!! Love those potato stacks.
I live close to Mt. Rainier and my husband drove over in that area ans brought home 25 lbs. of Rainier cherries a week or so ago. YUM-O!!!
25 pounds?! What did you do with them all? That is a LOT of cherries.
everything here looks absolutely delicious! and btw rainier cherries are my favorites ever!
Thank you! Rainier cherries are awesome, right? I love Bing cherries too, but Rainier are so much sweeter.
Aww I do love canteloupe however yea maybe it’s not the best sub for your dish. lol Great pics!
I love cantaloupe too! Just not with couscous, I guess.
Everything looks so fresh and colorful! I enjoy cantaloupe a great deal but subbing it for mango? I’m glad you spared me trying that. And cherries are on sale this week here too!
Ha! Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking. I was desperate because I had all the other ingredients so I needed to be something to use instead of the mango, otherwise the other ingredients would spoil…