What could be better than fresh guacamole for watching sporting events? Or movies? Or catching up on your favorite TV shows? Or putting in an omelet? OK, you get the idea. Recently, Alan, my fabulous boyfriend, showed up with about 30 fresh avocados picked from the trees of his friends.
Avocados are a fruit, which many people don’t realize. Once avoided because of their high fat content, health advocates now advise eating them, as the fat is very good for us. Avocados are rich in nutrients. These fruits contain vitamins A, C and E, all of which provide a wealth of health benefits. Furthermore, nutrients like potassium, lutein and folate are found in high amounts. Antioxidants, which are great for preventing disease, are also found in large amounts in avocados.
One of the biggest benefits of eating avocados is better heart health. You see, avocados contain almost a quarter of the recommended daily intake for folate, this makes them excellent for helping to prevent heart disease and strokes. Meanwhile, the monounsaturated fats in avocados can actually lower LDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, the vitamin E and glutathione in avocados are also great for your heart.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant. This nutrient is helpful in the prevention of heart disease, aging and even cancer. Avocados also contain vitamin A, another antioxidant which can help to remove the free radicals in the body which may lead to these harmful diseases.
Overall, I’m not a huge fan of eating plain ones, as the flavor is a bit too subtle for me. I do, however, love the consistency and use them to thicken sauces, make the occasional vegan puddings and of course, make guacamole! Since I had so many, I made a bunch and have shared it with friends. They all think it’s some of the best they have had. Who knew eating something so delicious would be so healthy at the same time?
Now, there’s a lot of chopping involved, which is why I am SO grateful to my friend, Cathy Arkle, for turning me on to the “Onion Chopper.” This thing is amazing and shortens prep time by at least half! You can buy it at Bed Bad and Beyond for about $20. See how nice and pretty it cut the tomatoes? I used it for the onion and jalapenos, as well. Thanks, Cathy! You can see all HER food posts at http://www.cathyarkle.com/shepaused4thought/.
Rona’s Rockin’ Guacamole
Serves 10-15, depending on how hungry they are!
Rockin’ Guacamole
Ingredients
- 15 avocados
- 1 large red onion or 2 small ones, chopped small
- 5-7 roma tomaoes, chopped small
- 2-3 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and chopped small
- 3/4 C fresh cilantro leaves, minced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- Juice of 2-3 limes
- 1 1/2 tbsps cumin
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Scoop out the avocados into a large bowl. Using a potato masher, mash until almost smooth, but with a few lumps left. Add all other ingredients and either whip or mix well. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to blend.
Enjoy! Let me know how yours comes out. Have another ingredient you find exciting? Let me know!
