In the Spotlight: Avocados

Avocados are one of those foods that I stumbled across way too late in life. It wasn't until I moved to southern California twenty years ago that I had enough courage to give them an honest shot.  I could not understand why they were such a staple in the lives of every local here. Fresh avocados are gifted to neighbors and loved ones like gold and seem to headline every recipe. Once I became the lucky recipient of a "fresh off the tree" offering, I decided it was as good a time as any to cut them open and dive in. All of that precious time wasted! 

These days, not a day goes by without including avocados in my daily diet. Those in both my running and plant-based circles would agree that avocados are the ultimate "healthy fat" and tend to be the crowd favorite (dare I say, trepidatiously, over peanut butter). They are just loaded with nutrition, especially the important ones that vegans need to be mindful of: B vitamins, E, K, and loads of potassium and folate. But really, who cares about all that...a perfect avocado is simply delicious.  There is just such sweet victory in cutting open a perfect avocado and enjoying it "neat", with a drizzle of lime and Tajin. 

We are fortunate to enjoy avocados all year round. They are especially popular in the summer, as the temperatures soar, and these fruits deliver a smooth, cooling, fresh flavor to most all seasonal fare. Even dessert! Choosing my favorites to share in this post was not an easy task, but the following recipes are truly my staples. Best of all, no cooking required; merely simple and easy preparation.