Get tropical with Papaya Recipes

When I was a kid watching the Disney's Jungle Book, I had no idea that pawpaws were papayas. Even if I did, I probably wouldn't have been able to point one out. Having grown up in Florida where tropical fruits abound, I'm a bit embarassed to admit that I didn't try papaya until I watched this movie again with my daughter some unmentionable years ago. Of course, she wanted to try the same foods as Mowgli, something other than the mangos and bananas that grow in the yard. So, we took the plunge, tried papayas, and fell in love. Look for this tasty fruit in the produce section and try Papaya Muffins or Bread, Papaya Ice Cream, or one of the many other interesting papaya recipes.

• Papaya Recipes and Cooking Tips
_{Papaya Photo © 2007 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}