I Love My Little Green Fruit

Amanda
I am in love with avocados. I am good for one a day. Thankfully, they are incredibly healthy. I can salivate over their buttery texture and subtle nutty flavors. And I have found numerous ways to enjoy them. Who would've thought the name "avocado" actually derived from the Aztec word for "testicle"? (ahuacatl). I guess it makes sense.

One of my absolute favorite ways to enjoy an avocado came from an issue of Fine Cooking Magazine. In this particular issue, one of the featured chefs was talking about how she best enjoys snacking on this exquisite fruit. To my dismay, I cannot remember her name, for I would love to give her credit for introducing me to this perfectly healthy idea of a midday bite. For my version, I toast a slice of Ezekiel Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Bread till it's hot and a little crunchy. Then, I take about half an avocado, and while the bread is hot, I mash the avocado onto the bread. The avocado actually "melts" onto the bread. I drizzle on a little bit of good quality olive oil and finish it off with a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper. Delicious! After the gym, when I crave something light and healthy, but don't know what to have - this is what I eat. It is the ultimate snack.

The other day, I brought an avocado into work to have as a snack. Seconds after I took my last bite, I was called to the tasting room in the shop to sample some wines with a vendor. The first wine I tasted was a Sauvignon Blanc from Australia. Having just eaten the avocado, I realized what a tremendous match this was! The Sauvignon Blanc had good richness of fruit, but something about it's flavors and textures was incredibly enhanced coming off the nutty flavor and creamy texture of the avocado.  It was the pefect example of how a food's flavors and textures can effect one's impression of a wine. The avocado took an average Sauvignon Blanc to a whole new level! When incorporating avocado into a recipe, I would definitely go for a white with rich,  lively, fresh fruit. An Albarino from Spain would also be marvelous as well.

I try to incorporate avocado into any recipe I can. I make delicious black bean burgers. I love to spread some fresh avocado on top with a dash of hot sauce. And when I want a salad, but need something a little more substantial, I throw avocado into the mix to give it some extra weight.

If anyone has any unique recipes or ideas for avocado use, please - I would love to hear your thoughts!