avocado

Roasted Turkey, Bacon, & Avocado Club Sammie

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

Roasted Turkey, Bacon, & Avocado Sammie.

Warmer weather means lighter meals and sometimes even sandwiches for dinner.

Here is a yummy fave I made this past Sunday.

Often times on Sundays, we have a bigger, late breakfast, skip lunch, and have an early dinner.

After enjoying hearty breakfast omelets hubby made with our leftover prime rib from dinner out the night before, we made a light sandwich supper.

On a sweet onion bun thickly slathered with mayonnaise, we sliced some roasted turkey, topped it with crispy, smokey bacon, creamy avocado slices, juicy ripe tomatoes and peppery arugula and spinach.  It was yum on a bun.

Do you enjoy sandwiches for warm weather suppers?  What is your fave?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Avocado Toast

/ Jodi / 53 Comments
Avocado Toast with Spicy Pico de Gallo

Avocado Toast with Spicy Pico de Gallo

Avocado Toast.

My latest obsession.

Skip the butter.
Skip the jam.

A perfectly ripe,
creamy avocado half
spread on toast.

Topped with a spoonful
of fresh pico de gallo
with a slight kick
and a dash of salt.

O M Geee!

When only using a half of an avocado, I’ve found a way to keep the other half fresh until the next day.  Leave the pit in and cover tightly with plastic wrap to keep out any bit of air that could touch it and turn it brown, then refrigerate.  I don’t refrigerate avocado before they are cut, but if you only eat half, I think it best to refrigerate the cut one.

Leaving the pit in is key too.  A friend whose son works in a restaurant that makes fresh guacamole shared this life-changing tip with me recently.  When making fresh guacamole, throw one of the pits in.  It keeps the guac from turning brown.  It really works!

How do you like your avocado toast?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Red Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Black Beans & Corn

/ Jodi / 38 Comments

Red Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Black Beans, and Corn.

I love legumes, and I am really growing to love quinoa.  I recently tried this new salad for dinner that was so so delicious, filling, and healthy.

A one-cup serving of quinoa is packed with 9g proteins, 5g fiber, and 20g carbohydrate. Red quinoa is also rich in magnesium, manganese, copper, iron and phosphorous. It contains high quantities of lysine, an essential amino acid.

Legumes like black beans and edamame are also high in protein and fiber, and avocado is extremely nutrient dense.

To eat something that is so easy, so healthy, so pretty, and so delicious is a win-win in my book!

Are you a legume lover?  Quinoa connoisseur?  I’d love to hear your favorite ways to enjoy!

Red Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Black Beans & Corn

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Red Quinoa, cooked in broth and cooled
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup corn, frozen, roasted, or fresh off cob
  • 1/4 cup Sweet Vidalia or Green Onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup edamame (optional)
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Cilantro, fresh chopped, to taste
  • 1 tsp. Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Cherry tomato (optional) for garnish

Directions

Cook quinoa, and set aside to cool.

Toss vegetables together gently.  Drizzle with lime juice, vinegar and oil.  Season with salt, pepper and cilantro.  Gently toss.

Spoon quinoa onto plate.  Top with a generous scoop of vegetable salad.  Garnish, as desired, with quartered cherry tomato.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Creamy Avocado Pasta

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

Creamy Avocado Pasta.

One day this week, I was in the mood for a creamy pasta with grilled chicken and broccoli.

At first I grabbed a jar of Alfredo sauce from the pantry – thinking hubby would enjoy that – and then I thought…. “Wait!  Isn’t there a healthier way to make a creamy pasta sauce?”

I had a few avocados on hand and wondered how they might work to make a creamy sauce.  After doing a little research on the web, I found this is kind of a “thing,” and I couldn’t wait to try.

I created this recipe by researching and combining ideas from several versions of recipes I found, and I have to admit- it was seriously flippin’ amazing!

Pasta covered in a creamy, dreamy, full flavored but HEALTHY sauce!!  What could be better?!

Goodbye Alfredo sauce.

Goodbye Mac’n Cheese.

Hello amazingly divine Creamy Avocado Pasta Sauce!

I steamed some fresh broccoli, and we grilled some marinated chicken breasts.  Putting these on top of a cup of Creamy Avocado Pasta made for a full and satisfying dinner.

You’ve got to try this!  Here’s my recipe.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb pasta of your choice
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 large or 2 small limes, juiced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or light sour cream
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Cook pasta in boiling salted water to al dente.  Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.

Cut avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop out out the green flesh from the skin with a spoon.  Discard skin.  Put avocado in blender or food processor.  Add minced garlic, chopped fresh basil and cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, Greek yogurt or light sour cream, olive oil, salt and pepper, and 1/2 cup pasta water.  Blend/puree into a creamy sauce.  Add more pasta water as needed for desired consistency.

Toss with warm pasta, and serve immediately.

You can top with vegetables of your choice like cherry tomatoes and sweet corn, peas, asparagus, broccoli, green onions, pine nuts, or whatever you like.  You can also add a protein if you like – chicken, shrimp, crab meat, lobster, pork.  Sprinkle with a bit of freshly grated Parmesan for a bit of salty, nutty zip.  Or – you can just enjoy as is.  

Can’t wait to hear from those who try and what you think of it!  I’m a total fan!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Avocado Watercolor & Guacamole Burgers

/ Jodi / 52 Comments
Avocado Watercolor - 5x7 Arches 140lb Rough - Ansa Yellow, Green-Gold, Panes Gray, Burnt Umber

Avocado Watercolor – 5×7 Arches 140lb Rough – Ansa Yellow, Green-Gold, Panes Gray, Burnt Umber

I love avocados!  When they are at their peak of ripeness, there is nothing more amazing with just a sprinkle of salt.

Avocado is great smeared on whole grain toast for breakfast and topped with a fried egg.  It is wonderful for lunch cut up into a fresh green salad.  It makes an amazing dip for tortilla chips.  And it is a fabulous addition to a juicy, grilled burger for a great summertime supper sandwich!

Avocado Burger

Yesterday, I made a batch of fresh guacamole from some avocados I had that were right at their peak of ripeness and decided to use it as a topping to some fresh grilled burgers for a hot summer Sunday supper.  We enjoyed the burgers with some fresh sweet corn on the cob and a tossed green salad.  It was the perfect meal to end a warm, relaxing weekend.

guacamole

If the green color makes you nervous, let me tell you I have never had anyone try my guacamole that didn’t end up loving it – even the skeptics.  Hope you’ll give it a try.  Not only is it yummy, it is quite healthy!  Avocados have more potassium than bananas, are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, and are packed with fiber.  Adding garlic, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice, make it even better!

Guacamole Burgers

Ingredients:Avocado Burger

Directions:

Prepare guacamole and set aside (covered tightly with plastic wrap to avoid air that will brown the avocados).

Mix ground beef and onion soup mix until well combined.  Form mixture into 6 large hamburger patties.  Grill burgers to medium-well (or your desired doneness).   Top with a slice of white American cheese, and allow to melt.

To assemble, place burger on bun, top with guacamole and sliced tomato.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Healthy Egg & Avocado Breakfast Sandwich

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

Breakfast Sandwich Egg tomato avacado

I didn’t used to be a big fan of breakfast, but I am beginning to enjoy it more and more.

One of my favorite new hot, healthy, protein and vitamin-rich go-to’s is this yummy breakfast sandwich.

Breakfast Sandwich Egg tomato avacado 2

A protein-rich fried egg topped with fresh and juicy, red-ripe Campari tomatoes and slices of nutrient-dense avocado sandwiched between a whole wheat English muffin is just the way to start my day.

When I don’t have ripe avocados, I love to use a slice of smoked gouda cheese or some crispy bacon.  Not nearly as healthy, but oh so yummy!

I’m already looking forward to my next breakfast!  How about you?

Healthy Egg and Avocado Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients:Breakfast Sandwich Egg tomato avacado

  • I large egg
  • 1 Campari tomato
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 whole wheat English muffin
  • butter, salt & pepper to taste

While English muffin is toasting, fry egg to your liking – sunny side up, over easy, over hard (my personal preference).  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Place egg on lightly buttered toasted English muffin, top with slices of tomato and avocado.  Smoosh together, cut in half, and ENJOY!

Remember what we were always told as children….
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so here’s to breakfast!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Holy Guacamole!

/ Jodi / 11 Comments

guac cover

Our family LOVES Guacamole!

and it is so easy to whip up in just a few minutes if you have a couple of ripe avocados on hand.

quac ingred

Here is my super simple, but SUPER YUMMY recipe for Jodi’s Holy Guacamole!

INGREDIENTS:
4 ripe avocados
1 lime
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 large sweet Vidalia onion, chopped
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Salt to taste (1/2 – 1 tsp)

Cut the avocados in half, pit, and scoop out flesh by using a tablespoon.  Place in bowl.

quac 2

Then coarsely chunk/smash using a pastry blender until it looks like this – takes less than a minute when the avocados are ripe.

quac 3

Squeeze the juice of the lime over avocados and mix well.

quac 4

Add remaining chopped ingredients:  garlic, onion, tomato, cilantro; and then salt to taste.

quac 5

Easy Peasy!  Serve with tortilla chips.

Jake and Colleen came over Sunday, and we ate it all!  First some before dinner, then polished it off after dinner with a couple drinks and a game of Scrabble (Which PS I won the first game!  Beat Jake by ONE Point! You cannot realize what a big deal this is – LOL!  Jake takes his Scrabble very seriously.  🙂  So he won the second game.  We will have to have a tiebreaker SOON – Game on Jake!)

scrabble
Enjoy the Guac!  It really is pretty killer!

quac last

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi