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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Ways To Bring Avocados Into Your LIfe
Avocados bring us so much more than guacamole. These fruits have a natural richness that make them a valuable addition to everything from soup to salad dressings. Their shape and skin texture are responsible for their nickname: "alligator pear," though they are not related to that other fruit. While there are a million and one uses for avocados, sometimes less is more: Nothing beats slicing open a ripe one, removing the pit and digging in with a spoon to savor the mellow, smooth flesh all on its own.
Avocados are high in unsaturated fat-the good kind of fat-so although they have a higher calorie count than most fruits (one quarter of a medium avocado has 84 calories), they're still a great addition to a heart-healthy diet. Avocados also contain a healthy dose of beta carotene (the vitamin A content is significant), as well as vitamins B6, C and E, folate, niacin and thiamin.
There are many ways to add avocados to your diet:
With their bright-green color and creamy texture, avocados are a versatile fruit that seem like a vegetable. They work especially well in combination with crunchier and spicier ingredients.
One of the avocado's most popular uses is in the Mexican dip guacamole. For a twist on this classic, use a 15-ounce can of white beans and one avocado; purée with 1/2 cup minced red onions, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, a clove of garlic, 3 tablespoons lime juice and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Add salt, cumin and hot sauce to taste.
For a quick, creamy gazpacho, throw a peeled, sliced avocado in the blender with 1 1/2 cups each water, cucumbers and tomatoes, a jalapeño pepper, the juice of one lime and a sprig of cilantro. Blend until smooth.
The avocado's richness makes it a great "smoothie" candidate. Blend the flesh of one avocado with 1 cup nonfat milk, 1/2 cup ice cubes and 1 cup fresh berries. Sweeten to taste.
Add 1/2 an avocado, mashed, per pound of ground meat to your favorite burger recipe; they'll be indescribably moist. Add it to your favorite sweet bread recipe, and you'll get the same effect.
For a quick and colorful salad, toss avocado chunks with cold, diced, roasted beets and rotini pasta. Dress with your favorite vinaigrette.
For a creamy salad dressing, blend 1/2 avocado with 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon nonfat sour cream and your choice of herbs (parsley, oregano and even mint work well).
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:07 AM ::
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