Sides

Avocadoed Toast (Buttered Toast but Better)

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Do you have an avocado tree in your back yard? If the answer is yes, let’s swap houses. For a while. Like, ‘til the avocado tree stops producing avocados. Deal?

The poster child for ‘Don’t judge a fruit by its cover,” avocados - once the rarest of fruits - are everywhere these days. Guacamole, omelets, salads, tarts, avocados included in any type of recipe guarantee an extra glance, because what’s sweeter, creamier, and more luscious than an avocado?

Butter but Better.

Grinch green, avocados won’t make your heart grow three sizes, but they’ll definitely help keep your heart healthy. Packed with monounsaturated fat, avocados can help lower LDL levels while raising the amount of HDL cholesterol in your body. They also allow for the absorption of other carotenoids that are essential for heart health -especially beta-carotene and lycopene.

So, ditch the pit and scoop the fruit. From breakfast to dinner, Avocados = awesome.

AVOCADOED TOAST

WHAT’S IN IT

  • 1 – 1 ½ avocados

  • 4 slices sourdough or whole grain bread, toasted

  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and cut in half (or a sprinkle of garlic powder)

  • Sea salt and pepper to taste

  • Lemon or lime juice

  • Pinch of cracked red pepper flakes

  • OPTIONAL toppings: Red pepper, cherry tomatoes, or olives - small diced

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. Toast bread. Drizzle each slice with extra virgin olive oil, and rub with halved garlic clove.

  2. Cut ripe (but not overripe) avocados in half. Remove pit, scoop flesh into a small bowl, and mash with fork until desired creaminess (or chunkiness).

  3. Sprinkle mashed avocado with lemon or lime juice. Add a pinch of cracked red pepper, garlic powder and /or sea salt. Gently combine, and spread on toast.

  4. Sprinkle optional toppings over avocado spread if desired. Chia and sesame seeds are a great add.

WHY IT’S HEALTHY

ENJOY!


Sweet Potato Chips or Fries

WHAT'S IN IT

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled

  • 2 T avocado oil

  • 1 t cumin

  • 1 t cinnamon

  • 1 t paprika

  • 1 t sea salt

  • ½ t black pepper

  • variation use 1 tsp garlic powder with 1 t paprika

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

  2. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into sticks 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long, OR slice into very thin chips. Toss with avocado oil.

  3. Mix spices, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the sweet potatoes and gently toss. Spread on 2 rimmed baking sheets.

  4. Bake until brown and crisp on the bottom, about 10 minutes for chips and 15 minutes for fries. Flip and bake until the other side is browned and crisp, about 10 minutes.

WHY ITS HEALTHY

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A, have a good amount of fiber and help to regulate blood sugar.  Cumin can aid  digestion, boost your immune system, promote the health of your skin, relieve respiratory conditions, promote detoxification, and fight infections. Cinnamon is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, immune-boosting, heart-protecting and has cancer-fighting properties. Capsaican, an ingredient in hot peppers that is used to make paprika, is know to support immune function. Paprika can help improve the health of your eyes and also has antioxidants that fight free radical damage .

ENJOY!

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Tomocado Salad

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One of the sweetest, simplest, healthiest salads you can mix together in minutes!

WHAT’S IN IT

2 avocados; pitted and cut into 1 inch chunks

2 ripe tomatoes; seeded and cut into 1 inch chunks

¼ red onion, chopped or thinly sliced

OPTIONAL: cilantro leaves slivered

VINAIGRETTE:

3 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 t vinegar – apple cider, red wine or balsamic

1/8 t salt

Pinch of ground pepper

 

HOW TO MAKE IT

In a medium sized bowl, gently combine avocados, tomatoes, red onion and cilantro.

Combine the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar. Seal the lid and shake vigorously 30 seconds until emulsified. Pour to taste over salad mixture and gently mix to coat tomatoes and avocados.

NOTE: This also makes a delicious bruschetta topping!

WHY IT’S HEALTHY

Tomatoes are high in antioxidants and one of the best sources of lycopene, which is closely tied to enhanced immunity and cancer risk reduction. Tomatoes have healthy amounts of vitamin E, B vitamins and magnesium.  Avocados contain about 20 vitamins and minerals, improve digestive health and promote healthy skin, hair and eyes. Red onion has sulfur compounds, and studies have shown an inverse association between the frequency of consuming onions and the risk of several common cancers. Onions can also protect against too much LDL cholesterol by limiting the activity of harmful free radicals within blood vessels, lowering oxidative stress, improving blood circulation and blood pressure levels.  Cilantro is packed with vitamins A, K, & C, minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium, and has more antioxidants than most fruits or vegetables. Cilantro is a heavy-metal detoxifier and is able to remove mercury and aluminum from where it is stored in the fat tissues.  Extra Virgin Olive oil contains oleocanthal which has properties similar to non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. EVOO helps keep blood pressure low and prevent LDL oxidation, and has a monounsaturated fatty acid called oleic acid which is heart-healthy and helps fight free radical damage.

ENJOY!

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