Gust Post: Frugal Recipe for Mango Floats

Frugal Recipe: Mango Float

Mango floats are a very popular dessert in the Philippines. One reason for its popularity is the availability of ingredients especially fresh, sweet mangoes. It is also very easy and quick to prepare. However, the main reason that most households in the Philippines have it during special occasions is due to it being inexpensive to make. One of the simplest recipes for mango float that I would recommend is from Just a Pinch Recipes. Their Ultimate Mango Float recipe is very easy to follow. If you want to see the recipe, just click on this link.

All you need are one box Graham crackers (14 oz. or 400 gm.), one 14 oz. can or two 7.6 oz. cans of Nestle cream (chilled) one can of condensed milk, three large ripe mangoes (Carabobo variety) and a cup of crushed Graham crackers. If you cannot find Graham crackers, you can substitute Lady Fingers (also known as sponge biscuits, sponge fingers, Naples biscuits, Boudoir biscuits, or Savoy biscuits) for them. If you cannot find Nestle cream, a can of heavy cream will do. Most of the time, fresh mangoes are not available. No need to worry, you can always substitute canned peaches or any freeze-dried fruits for them. Trader Joe's, Crunchies, Honeyville, Just Mango, Crispy Green, are some of the brands that sell freeze dried mangoes.

If using freeze-dried fruits or mangoes, steep them first in hot water for 8 to 10 minutes. If you use cold water let the fruit steep for 20 minutes. Combine the chilled cream and condensed milk. Mix well. Crush Graham crackers to yield 1 cup. Spread the Graham crackers on the bottom of a square or rectangular glass baking dish. Begin layering the ingredients by spreading some of the cream and condensed milk mixture over the crackers. Arrange sliced mangoes on top of the cream. Repeat the process until all ingredients are used. The cream mixture should be the last layer on top. Sprinkle with crushed Graham crackers and mangoes.

Total cost of the dessert will be around $15. Nabisco, Keebler or Winco's offer some of the cheapest Graham crackers you can find at an average of $2. Nestle cream costs an average of $4 for a 14 oz. can. Nestle's La Lechera or Santini condensed milk costs around $4 per 14 oz. can. Freeze-dried mangoes cost around $5 per 1 oz. bag. If you want the cheapest condensed milk, you can make your own. Just mix 2 ¼ cups powdered milk and ¼ cup water with a mixer. Gradually add ¾ cup sugar to the milk and continue mixing until sugar dissolves completely. Refrigerate until it thickens.

Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and supports those ones that offer practical lifestyles to consumers.  As a frugal living and emergency preparedness advocate, she recommends FoodInsurance.com for families who are looking for high quality food storage and emergency kit supplies.  You may connect with Food Insurance on Facebook.