Guacamole.

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Simple & Fresh. I have been toying with this recipe for a while and I think I got it right. Avocados have endless benefits. Each one packed full of essential vitamins, fiber, more potassium than a banana, low sugar, and high in healthy fats. They are also great for young kids and adults and those with food sensitivities. And because they are full of healthy fats, one avocado can keep you feeling satisfied.  The goal of this recipe, yet simple, is to show off the avocado, while boosting the fruit’s flavor with bright notes of lime, cilantro, and spice!

Stages of an avacado

Is it ripe? Always a struggle. I can be seen countless times in the produce section handling dozens of avocados just to find the perfect ones. The key to ripeness: the avocado skin should give slightly, when held and pressed and be free of bruises. If it gives too freely, your avocado is probably over ripe and if it does not give at all it is probably not ripe and you will have a problem mashing the fruit. Tips! If in a pinch you need to ripen your avocados fast, pop them in to a paper bag for a day. Adding a banana or an apple to the bag can speed this process up further.  Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that is released from the skins of ripening fruit. It is actually the chemical that makes tomatoes turn red and bananas yellow. It has the affect of ripening any surrounding fruits, too. I have made the mistake on getting really excited for making guacamole and not finding ripe avocados that day at the market so plan accordingly.

how_to_pick___buy_hass_avocados___hass_avocado

Citrus Press. BEST TOOL EVER! My recipes call for lots of citrus and extracting the juice can be a painstaking process. I do not know why I hadn’t purchased one sooner. I witnessed a friend of mine using The Citrus Press as she made the best Grapefruit Margarita… WOW! It packed a citrus punch! Grapefruit, lime, tequila, agave syrup…. YUM (will have to hunt that recipe down and post!) Anyways, I knew I had to purchase this tool ASAP. It will make all your citrus needs a breeze. The one I purchased was about $10.

Guacamole

Ingredients
2 avocados
1/2 jalapeno, diced
1 T. onion, diced
1 T. lime juice
1 T. cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. olive oil

Dash of cayenne

Directions
1. Remove flesh from avocados into a small bowl.
2. Combine all ingredients with avocados. *
3. Use a fork or mortar and pestle to mush the avocados and other ingredients together. Mix until desired constancy. I like mine chunky.
* I liked the amount of seasoning noted, however, if you are welcome to adjust any seasonings to fit your taste
To store left over, place in tupperware. Squeeze a little more lie juice on top. Place a layer of saran on top of the guacamole so it is touching it. Then seal the container with the lid. The goal is to keep out as much air as possible to prevent browning and further ripening. Upon using left overs, if the top is too brown, scoop the top layer off and re-mix the guacamole. Leftover guacamole will not last long. 

 

The time to start is now.

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“Today, I am really going to do this…maybe tomorrow…” a phrase that has been uttered from my mouth about twenty times in the past two years about starting this blog. I can’t tell if this is a good thing- or bad- I mean, now, I have two more years of experiences to share with you… OR if it’s a round about way of me saying that I WAS PROCRASTINATING and a little bit scared. Yup, I said it scared. The internet is intimidating. Comparing is easy to do and what about a negative comment? “OMG, my life would be over!… or would it?” Life can be filled with excuses, but I HAVE to get over that. I am eager to share with you so many ideas and thoughts I have pondered and learned about all this while. The time to start is, now.

Let me back up a bit. Blogging and writing use to come easy. When I was 12, I printed a newsletter called Cooking News. That’s right printed a newsletter- paper people. In 2000, online blogs weren’t even a thing. Google was two years old and it was all about Ask Jeeves. Monthly,  I’d snail mail this newsletter to family and friends and share with them all my cooking adventures. Margins were whack and content was eehh… ok, but I didn’t care, I wanted to share my passions with everyone.

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The original Cooking News- ANCIENT!

As I got older, my interests expanded, online blogs were invented (finally) and Cooking News became The Holistic Journal, which was about cooking and health topics. After I jetted off to college, life got busy and blogging took a back seat. Now after more than 15 years of growing up and no blogging, I am so eager to continue to share my cooking, wellness, and adventures with you!

What’s in the Blog?

Cooking: Recipes, tips, techniques- Okay, I practice the 90:10 Rule. 90% of the time I stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine. I have a fairly sensitive stomach and GI track so routine is necessary. As of recently, I went 100% gluten free and it has resolved almost all my GI issues (more about that in the blog later)… BUT I LOVE goodies and savory foods, too! So 10% of the time I let loose and indulge– so you might see a few gluten & sugar full recipes every now and then. I also believe everyone can cook with some practice and help. Many of my posts will focus on how to make cooking easy, affordable and fun!

Wellness: Fitness, nutrition, healthy living– A healthy life and body is not just about a good diet or working out, it is about having life balance, consistency and sustainable habits. My bachelor’s degree is in Anthropology and I have been a certified personal trainer for years. I take an bio-anthropological approach to creating and understanding how humans work in a modern day world- both in moving and in eating. I love to workout and to read and look critically at current philosophies and research to understand how to live our best selves.

Adventures: Travel, food, exploring- Life is not complete without LIVING and enjoying our planet! There is never a dull moment in Los Angeles, but I also, love getting out and exploring new cities and attractions. I may never go skydiving (serious fear), but I love trying a new restaurant, learning about new cultures, and seeing beautiful places.

Okay, ready, set, GO!

-Erin

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