Firm, yet yielding to the touch, my knife slides effortlessly into the dark green, almost purplish avocado skin. Already suspecting that my California Avo is perfectly ripe, the first slice of my knife is all I need to know that this particular avocado will reveal the lovely rich green color I love so much. Twisting the avo open, my heart always jumps with a little leap of exhilaration as the interior confirms just what I had suspected and brings a beautifully soft, yet not at all mushy, texture, completely unblemished. Gorgeous, sophisticated yet humble, colorful, and undoubtedly one of the biggest simple pleasures in my life, the California avocado holds a place of high esteem.
Posting my stunningly beautiful and perfectly ripe avocado on Instagram along with the above sentiments, I had a few friends gently tease that perhaps I need to get out a bit more, but others identified with my exhilaration while confirming their undying love for the green fruit right along with me.
A California girl through and through, I'm lucky to live near the avocado capital of the world and have been blessed with a constant supply of stunningly beautiful California Avocados for the last few months. As such, our plates usually find avocado as a healthy ingredient in many of our meals. Avocados - they aren't just for guacamole any more.
Filled with fiber and essential nutrients and vitamins, the avocado's fat is made up of monounsaturated fats, or the type that help control triglycerides and lower blood pressure and cholesterol as well as help to control diabetes. Also high in folate and luteine, avocados have been said to promote healthy cell and tissue development as well as to help in the protection against cataracts and macular degeneration. Considered heart-healthy, avocados are now being praised for their Vitamin E content which has been linked to improving brain function and perhaps even helping with Alzheimer's.
While I find the health benefits of the avocado fascinating and definitely important, for me, pure love occurred at first taste. The health benefits are just a bonus. Rich and creamy, avocados find their way into meals at any time of day in our household and hold prominent positions in dishes from salads to desserts to everything in between.
With many of my friends sharing my avocado adoration, today I bring you a roundup sharing our avocado love.
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| Avocados... from blossom to table |
Avocado Recipes from Liv Life and some of our friends
(Click on the title of the photos - titles are linked to the recipes)
The Café Sucré Farine
Liv Life
Liv Life
Cooking on the Side
The Caré Sucré Farine
An Edible Mosaic
Liv Life
Jeanette's Healthy Living
Diethood
Liv Life
An Edible Mosaic
Liv Life
That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Spabettie
Liv Life
The Café Sucré Farine
The Lemon Bowl
Averie Cooks
Spabettie
Shugary Sweets
Liv Life
Taking on Magazines
Crumb
Elle's New England Kitchen
Liv Life
Liv Life
The Café Sucré Farine
Great round up! Too bad I did my mini bacon guacamole cups just yesterday, because they fit in here perfectly. ;) I adore avocado.
ReplyDeleteAdore is the perfect word for me too!! I added your cups... my family will love them!
DeleteAwesome roundup, Kim. I envy you being to source these locally. I would be in heaven. I knew avos were good fo you but had no idea about all the benefits. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDebra, I am so lucky! My friend works near an avocado grove and brings me Trader Joe's sized bags of them. We've been SO lucky this year.
DeleteWhat a fantastic round-up, Kim! I always have avocados on hand and there are a few things here that I want to make - starting with your beautiful frozen yogurt!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for including me in the round-up! xo
Your pudding is high on my list to try, Faith! I have a feeling it will become another family favorite.
DeleteNice! I always say I'm going to do something creative with avocados but then I get lazy and just schmear them on sandwiches instead of butter or mayo. Better than nothing I guess. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit many of our avos end up chopped into salads or simply over eggs. But with so many on hand I had to get creative!!
DeleteLove this round-up! Sorry I missed sending you my cottage cheese guacamole - it's awesome. But thank you for so many new recipe ideas! I have a bunch of avocados and am making your corn & avocado salad with lime you've got here - looks fantastic for the fourth.
ReplyDeleteLook like another fabulous recipe!! I added it above... I have a feeling this one will become a keeper. (love the less guilt!)
DeleteSaved this for later!! So we have to confess... Not much of the avocado lovers over here but we are trying... Need to try it mixed in a recipe and see if we acquire some love for it..
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
Mr. & Mrs. P
http://cristyandmichael.blogpost.com
It took me a while to branch out from guacamole. And if you are not really a lover, you can definitely hide them in recipes. My family had no clue there was an avo in the smoothie, but for Liv's after rehearsal refuel, it adds so many nutrients. Let me know what you try!!
DeleteYou are so so lucky that you get to have avocado all year round. I would absolutely love that! I adore them and I love all the creative recipes you have on here. Until I started blogging a couple years ago I didn't even know avocados could be used for anything else. My eyes have been opened!
ReplyDeleteAvocado is something that I started to enjoy after living in California (I don't think I ever had avocado growing up - maybe it wasn't even in stores back then in Japan). I can't imagine living without it, and I'm so happy I just came to find this roundup! I have to try your Guacamole Deviled Eggs... what a brilliant idea using avocado! I miss eating inexpensive and delicious California avocado~~~!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean!! I didn't really fall in love with avocado until I was older, now I love them. Enjoy your trip!
DeleteGreat round up. I was looking for good avocado recipes so now I can just scoot over here when I need one. Love every single one.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing our photos and recipes on your wonderful roundup of all things avo. Scott and Chris at the Café Sucré Farine.
Absolutely Chris... Scott is an amazing photographer! Thanks for letting us link to you.
DeleteWonderful round up, Kim!!! Happy 4th!!! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz!! Back at you!!
Delete