Papaya Juice

To make about 1 ¼ pint you need:

1 medium sized (about 12 oz) firm ripe papaya

3 cups whole milk

2 ½ tablespoons strained fresh limejuice

½ teaspoon finely grated fresh lime rind

2 oz sugar

¼ teaspoon vanilla essence

6 tablespoon crushed ice or 4 ice cubes

Thin lime slices for garnish (optional)

Start first by preparing the papaya. Peel the papaya using a small, sharp knife or a vegetable peeler. Cut in half lengthways and scoop out the black seeds inside, then chop the papaya in cubes.

Place the papaya in the jar of you favorite electric blender and add milk, limejuice, lime rind, sugar, vanilla essence and ice. Blend at high speed for 20 to 30 seconds, until the papaya is completely pulped and the mixture is smooth. Pour tropical island juice, refresco de papaya, into tall chilled glasses and serve at once. Garnish if you so desire with the thin slices of lime.