The Unexchangeable Avocado - Love One Today

In all the hours I've spent in the kitchen preparing food I have never found a substitution for the avocado.  You know when you stumble across a really delicious sounding recipe and you really, really want to make it at that moment?  But you're tired and in your PJs so a quick trip to the store out of the question?  Well, this is the ideal moment to come up with a substitution for whatever ingredients you need, but don't have.  So, what can you use in place of avocado?  NOTHING!  Absolutely nothing.  If you don't have avocado forget it.  Find a different recipe.  Nothing can replace it.  Nothing can replace it's unique flavor, smooth texture and simple preparation!  You can replace other foods with avocado though!  Avocado is great in smoothies, shakes, sandwiches, baked goods, on salads, and plain.  Not to mention the fact that no party is complete without guacamole dip and tortilla chips.

Nathan determined to finish the avocado all by himself -->

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Avocados are also really good for you and definitely deserve a place on your weekly grocery list of staple foods.  We eat avocados almost daily in my household.  My two year old son, Nathan, can barely go a day without them.  He's to the age now where I can give him a half an avocado with a spoon and he is thrilled to scoop it out of the shell himself.  I don't mind he enjoys avocados daily in fact I'm thrilled my son loves so many nutritious foods.  I know by eating avocados regularly that he is getting a great boost of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

Some of my favorite ways to eat avocado:

Breakfast
Toast with avocado slices served with an egg cooked over easy and some simple sauteed spinach with garlic.

Lunch
Avocado schmear on a sandwich filled with hummus, red pepper, lettuce or spinach and sweet onion.

Dinner
Fresh avocado salsa (or chop the pieces larger and eat it as a salad) with tomato, sweet onion, nopalitas (marinated cactus), minced garlic, minced jalapeno, cilantro, and a little salt & pepper.  Great served with grilled chicken or fish, or on top of tacos.

Snack
Plain sliced avocado aside some fresh fruit and whole grain crackers or pita.

Appetizer
Avocado half (pit removed) filled with sharp cheddar cheese and a drizzle of hot sauce - heat under the broiler until bubbly!  Eat with a spoon!

Dessert
Fudgesicle Frosty recipe by Blendtec.  Also one of Nathan's favorites!

Avocados are definitely a super tasty food!  Enjoy one today and benefit from the natural goodness of avocados!  More avocado recipes and ideas can be found at www.avocadocentral.com.

Disclaimer and Disclosure:
Although I did receive financial compensation for writing this post, all views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely and entirely my own and based on my own unique experiences. For nutrition information on avocados, please be sure to visit the LoveOneToday  website.