An Avocado a Day......

 I am crazy over avocados. I can eat them mashed on a slice of whole grain toast with a dash of hot sauce or forget the toast and put the sauce in the pit divot and scoop with a spoon....that there is heaven! And even though avocados have a lot a fat for a fruit, that fat is Good for You! Not that you want to eat a whole one one everyday (wahh!!!), but as a part of what you consume over the course of a week, they will do you more good than harm in spite of their high fat. They are high in potassium (great for your heart  and BP)and folate ( for you Moms to be) and are a great source of fiber. They're rich in monounsaturated fat, particularly one called oloeic acid which helps maintain and improve fat levels in the blood stream,  lower levels of LDL (baadd cholesterol), and increase HDL (the good guy).

Enough blabbering, let's make something good and yummy.

                                                Avocado Quinoa Salad (V)(GF)

•  Look at my February post. Cook Quinoa  ( 5Xor6X the recipe depending on how much you want. Adjust the vegetable amounts as needed or to taste)as described , switching the liquid to a good veggie broth.(don't use the cubes, blegh) and eliminating spices and dried fruits. Leave the nuts if you want to. 

• When the quinoa is cooked, squeeze a load of lemon or lime juice in, maybe 2 big lemons or 4 little limes.  Be sure to do this as soon as you dump your cooked Q. into a bowl so it soaks up the citrus flavor.

• Cut up some ripe bell peppers, scallions, purple cabbage (for crunch), shredded carrots  and fresh parsley. Don't be shy,  just chop up whatever veggies you happen to find in the bottom drawer

• When the quinoa is cool add the veggies and mix up well. Chunk up an avocado or 2 and toss them in. Fold the mixture over a couple of times to mix, but try to avoid mushing up your Avocado Chunks.

 That's it! A fabulous salad with limitless possibilities!

• Add fresh basil or fresh cilantro . Throw in a Handful of olives or chunks of cheddar, or chopped fresh tomato( the Real tomatoes of high summer, not the tasteless golf balls of winter). A Dollop of sour cream (organic low fat or vegan) would not be an untoward addition.

Don't be alarmed if you find that the avocado in your salad has turned brown over night. You can dribble lemon juice over the pieces before storing it in the fridge, or do what I do...strip mine the chunks out of the salad, eat 'em up, and add fresh tomorrow.......