avocado

Tropical Avocado Smoothie.

I know I am getting old when the most exciting thing that happens to me is finding an avocado for $1.99. Now, this avocado wasn’t ripe, but it’s better than paying $4.00 for one. And like everything else, I wanted it ripened yesterday. I am a proud product of the internet generation. Internet instant gratification: causing me to have less and less patience since 1997. I am a sucker for all things labeled ‘tropical.’ Be it perfume, lipgloss, candles, smoothies, or seafood, I am willing to drop major dollars if it takes my mind to sparkling waters and white beaches. I have bought the frozen avocado halves at Trader Joe’s, and I love them for smoothies. This time, however, I used the avocado that cost me $1.99 + my sanity as I was waiting for it to ripen. We all know that I would sell my soul for coconut. Not only is there coconut milk and shredded coconut in the smoothie, I added some more to the top. Because if I have to go somehow, I’d like to OD on coconut. This smoothie is so refreshing and just slightly sweet. I love using frozen bananas – the consistency is creamy and [...]

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Bacon Stuffed Avocado.

In honor of being reunited with my lover (bacon) this weekend, I wanted to share this to-die-for recipe with you. What is ironic is that I stumbled upon this recipe on the 2nd or 3rd day of Lent. Pure torture. It has been weighing heavily on my mind ever since. Especially because at this moment, avocado’s are about $2.50 a piece instead of $4.00. Could there possibly be a better combination in my extravagant, dramatic, hungry, expensive mind? A smooth, buttery avocado topped with crispy, applewood smoked bacon. When I die, I hope my Heaven is filled with bacon-stuffed avocados. I hope I have a house made out of bacon. And once I eat through it, a house made of cheese. Because I am pretty sure you don’t gain weight in Heaven. Awesome. The sweet and savory sauce drizzled over the avocado is perhaps more sinful than the dish itself. A mix of butter, brown sugar, garlic and soy sauce – it doesn’t get more decadent than this. Bacon Stuffed Avocado from avocadorecipes 8 slices crisp bacon, crumbled 4 medium avocados, ripe and unpeeled Lemon juice ½ cup of butter ¼ cup of brown sugar ¼ cup of [...]

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Sweet Corn and Avocado Salsa.

A few months ago, I went through a blue corn chip addiction. I sent myself to rehab, otherwise know as ‘winter’ here in Pittsburgh. See, the blue corn chip addiction was exacerbated by fresh, ripe avocados made into delicious guacamole. And since avocado’s cost an arm and a leg here during the winter, I kicked the habit. I’m not a chips-and-salsa gal, unless we are at a Mexican restaurant with homemade chips and I’m 4 margarita’s deep. I had a half-full bag of blue corn chips that were most likely a bit stale and a few months old. In true Mother Lovett fashion, I didn’t let them go to waste and created this concoction to dip them in. Unlike Mother Lovett, they weren’t 6 years expired. Yes, folks. That was perfectly acceptable. I love corn. I love sweet corn. If corn was the only vegetable on earth, I would love vegetables. Speaking of those treacherous things, I ate a few veggies yesterday. Sandwiched in between some wheat bread and goat cheese, I chomped down a few roasted sweet peppers. They were . . . eh, alright. I kind of enjoyed them. But I’m not ready to [...]

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Kiwi Mango Salsa.

Become a fan of How Sweet It Is on Facebook! Last week I found myself with an undying desire for kiwi. I bought 4 when I was grocery shopping, and by morning was left with 2. I guess hungry, angry husband syndrome set in. He must have really enjoyed the kiwi, because he came home Saturday afternoon with 3lbs of them. That equals out to approximately 24 fuzzy guys. But don’t take my word for it, because I’m really bad at math. Each kiwi tasted better than the next – juicy, fresh and sweet. Is it kiwi season? Is there such a thing? But what was I to do with all of them? Unlike my husband, I can’t eat things over and over and over again. First idea that came to mind? Make a salsa with it. I love fruit salsa. I love any kind of salsa. I love anything I can dip a chip into. And yes, salsa is one of the only way I eat veggies. They are always edible when smothered on a salty chip. Into the mix went kiwi, mango, orange bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, avocado and lime juice. It’s easy for me [...]

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Cobb Salad.

Please update your google readers!http://feeds.feedburner.com/howsweeteats/smSp Whoa. Before you get all excited about these vegetables, I must tell you I only had a few bites. I haven’t turned my back on you. I’d eat more, but veggies make me nervous. They make me sweat. Give me a rash. Hurt my tastebuds. Make me cry. You know. The usual stuff. But, I do like the occasional cobb salad. Know why? Because it is usually chock-full of bacon, cheese, and other non-vegetable items. Fantastic for me! I made one with chicken for my adoring husband. Without the chicken, he would have started to grow horns, and shrink into a munchkin with tiny feet and big ears. At least that is what he assumes. On second thought, I guess then he could drive around in the plethora of dye-cast cars he has ruined our home with. On a bed of lettuce I added pretty, colorful rows of red onion, bacon, tomato, hard-boiled egg, chicken, and avocado. I’m sure it doesn’t take a genius to figure out which parts I ate. The star of the show was the avocado. [...]

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A Boy’s Job.

Thank you all so much for your amazing responses to the first post where I really poured my heart out. It felt so good. To be honest, I am not afraid of rejection. Trust me, I expect to be rejected thousands of times. But when it is something that I really want, the fear or rejection doesn’t stop me. Last night, I decided to shovel the driveway. This was really the first time shoveling for me, because, well . . . I lived in a house with a father and 2 brothers, and now I live in a house with a husband. Yes, I may be a brat – but that doesn’t meant it isn’t a man’s job. And while living at home, it’s not like my brothers did much work either. But just knowing there were 2 boys in the house that should could do the work before me? I certainly wasn’t doing much manual labor. However, my hubby has a looooong commute to and from work. I knew that after his long drive home and few hours in the gym, he’d feel like he had to come home and shovel, given his recent addiction. I decided to [...]

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South of the Border Burger.

Update your google readers! http://feeds.feedburner.com/howsweeteats/smSp What I love about this burger is that the toppings are what makes it. It is extremely versatile and can be easily made into a turkey, black bean or veggie burger. This is another recipe from my friend Barb – who so graciously gave me a boatload of her restaurant recipes. The star ingredient – jalapenos. I slice them and leave the seeds in, because I couldn’t think of anything better than a burger so spicy you can barely eat it. Right? Just make sure you have 400 oz of beer water on hand to dull the spiciness. My favorite ingredient? The tequila. I may have done a few thousand shots before adding it to the jalepenos. After the jalapenos are sauteed, the tequila goes in to deglaze the pan. Word to the wise: stand back from the stove. I stood overtop, and got a rush of spicy jalapeno fumes + pure alcohol release straight into my sinus cavity. The next 2 hours were spent sneezing, coughing, snotting, fleming, and all sorts of those words. This all happened while my eyes were pouring with [...]

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Summer's End.

Summer is coming to a close here in good ‘ol Pittsburgh. The weekend was rainy and the forecast for the week is in the 60′s. My most favorite time of year! I do not like heat and do not like to be hot unless there is water near by. I sweat like a man – for real. Ask my husband. He knows better than to take me on a date where there is heat, sun and no sight of a swimming pool or ocean near by. Like a baseball game. Ok, who am I kidding? Are people still even going to see the Pirates play anymore? Anyone? I love to go to PNC Park, but usually just for the food. Shocking, I know. I made one of my most favorite ‘summer’ foods today – guacamole. Yes, here in PA it has to be a ‘summer’ food, unless you are willing to pay $12 for an avocado at Whole Paycheck Foods. Which I may be. We will see. I [...]