First, I want you to know that there are far more than ten ways to love an avocado.
But I bet you knew that already.
I have two very distinct memories of when my love affair with avocados began.
The first was back in 1996. The Ex and I were on our first cruise together and we were exploring the streets of downtown Bermuda before we had to be back on the ship. On one of the side streets, we discovered a little restaurant and the most amazing sandwich ever.
Toasted white bread. Mayo. Bacon. Avocado.
There is just something magical about avocado when it’s warm. It’s like it becomes even more amazing than it is just normally.
And, well, I don’t have to extol the virtues of bacon.
Because it pretty much does that all by itself.
Such a simple sandwich, but it completely drew me in.
Just the fact that I can remember it from all the way back in 1996 should tell you heaps.
That was my first clear memory of avocado, oddly enough.
The second time, the moment when my love affair really began full force, was in 2010. I had just started clean eating, and had pretty much given up mayonnaise. Avocado was my go-to condiment of choice. I bet you never thought of it as a condiment, did you? But if you smoosh it on bread, it is the perfect thing. So creamy, you will never miss your mayo.
And zero guilt. It’s a healthy, cholesterol-free fat that is pure deliciousness through and through.
And so the affair continued.
Four years later, if I’m making a sandwich, or want something quick, an avocado it is.
Nick and I often share one, halving it, drizzling it with extra virgin olive oil, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. And devouring it.
I just know sharing our avocado snack that way with him will be like my 1996 Bermuda avocado memory.
A fun, quirky memory we will share forever.
Speaking of fun, the folks at the Hass Avocado Board shared this video with the most adorable kids talking about how to be healthy and their own love for avocados. I am pretty sure my favorite part is how they pronounce avocado, and the little boy who stands up at the end to discuss the fact that if you eat cake, you might have a heart attack, so you should eat avocados.
Avocados have come up in tons of recipes here on Sweetnicks, so you know I have to share some of my favorites:
Smooshed Avocado and Egg Breakfast Pizza. We are pretty much winning with the avocado, but then adding a runny egg to it? The frosting on top of the proverbial cake.
Roasted Portobello Mushroom and Avocado Open-Faced Sandwiches. Mushrooms are probably one of my top three favorite vegetables, and roasting them just makes it even better. Pair it with smooshed avocado on an open-faced sandwich and you have a filling and yummy sandwich that is ready in just thirty minutes.
Broiled Avocado with Parmesan. Remember what I said about warm avocados being magical? This is that.
Tomato and Avocado Chick Pea Salad is a great throw-together recipe filled with flavorful ingredients you will love.
Endive Salad with Avocado Buttermilk Dressing. The tang of the buttermilk and the creaminess of the avocado is absolutely perfect on the simple chopped endives in this easy salad.
Smashed Chick Pea and Avocado Salad Sandwich. Admittedly something completely different, and my co-worker called it more of my “weird food,” but that doesn’t stop me from making it. It’s too good not to.
Buttered Crouton Salad with Avocado and Smoked Salmon was a perfect “clean eats” meal on a busy weeknight. And really. You can’t go wrong with buttered, toasted bread.
Grilled Cheese, Bacon, and Avocado Sandwiches. Like our beloved Bermuda sandwiches … but kicked up a notch.
Hot Dogs with Tomato Avocado Relish was a recipe I created so I could have messy and awesome hot dogs with toppings … and avoid the guilt.
And lastly, I couldn’t forget an alternative use for avocado … as a hair conditioner!
Need even more avocado recipes? I have a Pinterest board completely dedicated to ’em.
Now, before I go, how about a chance to win $50 to buy YOU some avocados to enjoy some of these recipes? It’s quite simple. Go watch that video and tell me what your favorite part was. Bonus entries for sharing the video and tagging me on Twitter, facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter.
Contest closes on midnight EST on 11/16/14. One winner will be chosen from the comment via a random number generator. Prize is fulfilled (and provided by) the generous folks at Hass Avocado.
Go love one today!
*This was a sponsored post through my work with Hass Avocado Board and Mom It Forward. But I have no problem sharing my love for avocados, so that opinion is most definitely all mine.
I haven’t eaten avocados in forever since discovering I’m allergic! I miss them, though….especially after reading this post!
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My favorite part was when the boy said that dairy comes from Dairy Queen! HAHA! I also never thought of an avocado being a fruit even though I know fruits have seeds!
I learned their is a difference between a vegetarian and a veterinarian.
heehee
Loved that opening scene … avocados rock!
I like when she asked them who is the healthiest person you know and their responses
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/531998402398011392
My favorite part was the little boy claimed dairy comes from Dairy Queen and the girl thinks men and women are equally healthy because she didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feeling. These kids are so cute!
https://twitter.com/kraftmaking/status/532020742670798848
https://www.facebook.com/nikki.p.smith.1/posts/932867396725320?pnref=story
My favorite part of the video is when they ask the boy & girl ‘who is healthier men or women?’ and the little boy answers right away ‘men’ and the little gitl hesitates and says ‘she;s still thinking’ (so cute!)
https://twitter.com/tannawings/status/532062177767600131
tweet
https://www.facebook.com/ellen.beck.39/posts/999128203437839?pnref=story
facebook share no clue why gacebook wasnt tagging this evening!
I loved the descriptions of vegetarians! they get to take care of pets! so cute!
I learned that avocados are a fruit because they have a seed. I am not sure how I didn’t know the seed=fruit thing.
I shared on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammigirl/posts/10152854087383792?pnref=story
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I also shared this video on twitter:
https://twitter.com/tammigirl/status/529390573237452802
I love how the little boy kept mispronouncing ‘avocados.’
Twitter Share: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/532919307953393664
“It’s a fruit because vegetables don’t have seeds!” haha
My favorite part is when the little boy says dairy comes from Dairy Queen
shared the video via twitter https://twitter.com/neiddy_ruiz/status/533002031758581760
shared the video on facebook facebook.com/leidy.ruiz.140/posts/741675679244092
I like the part where the little boy said that dairy comes from Dairy Queen.
shared on Twitter https://twitter.com/mom22girlz/status/533472392027185152
I liked when the girl got vegetarian mixed up with a veterinarian.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
shared on twitter
https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/533742416147128320
cshell090869 at aol dot com
shared on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/shelly.peterson.587/posts/937999032894980
cshell090869 at aol dot com
I liked dairy comes from Dairy Queen.
shared the video on Facebook–https://www.facebook.com/mary.happymommy/posts/850167341680297?pnref=story
I thought it was funny seeing the kids reaction to the woman’s definition of vegetarian.
that avocados are a fruit and not a vegetable
https://twitter.com/aunteegem/status/534155297791565824
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