The Versatile Avocado

Avocado is one of my very favorites. It is versatile, healthful, and easy to store and use. According to an article on WebMD, avocados contain many nutrients and vitamins that are essential for good health including lutein, folate, and monounsaturated fats.

 Avocados are portable, easy to store, and easy to use. If you buy them green, leave them out at room temperature and they will ripen in a few days. If you want them to ripen slowly, you can store them in the refrigerator and you won’t need to use them right away. To prepare an avocado for use, cut the fruit and split in half the long way. Remove the big seed and discard. At this point, you can scoop out the flesh with a big spoon. Alternatively, you can make slices in the flesh and then scoop. This will make perfect slices.

Below are two of my favorite avocado recipes:

Easy Guacamole

Ingredients:

2 large, ripe, avocados split, pitted and the flesh scooped into a bowl.

½ c pre-made pico de gallo from the grocery store.

½ tsp crushed garlic

Juice of 1 lime

2 TBS Fresh cilantro chopped

Salt, pepper to taste

Instructions:

Using a pastry cutter, mash up the avocado. Stir in the pico, garlic, lime juice, salt,  and pepper.

You can control the chunkiness of the guacamole by how much you mash it up.

Avocado face Mask

During the winter, when your face needs a little extra boost, an avocado face mask is wonderful for adding moisture, vitamins and minerals.  This face mask is super easy to make.

Mash up one ripe avocado and add a tsp of olive oil. Apply to a clean face and let sit for 15 minutes. Wash your face with clean water and pat dry.