Guacamole

Superbowl Time!  A great anytime, or game-time, snack or appetizer is guacamole.  Guacamole is loaded with healthy fats and nutrients.  The primary ingredient are avocados, which contain healthy fats, dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins K, B6, and C. Eating them has been shown to reduce your risk of breast and prostate cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol, and improve your eye health.  And of course, we can't forget the health benefits of tomatoes and the other ingredients in this quick and easy recipe.  I served it with multi grain tortilla chips and some red and green bell pepper strips.  Yum.

Ingredients:
3 Ripe Avocados, Peeled and Pitted (I used Organic Haas Avocados)
4 tsp. Lime Juice
1/4 Cup Onion (Fresh Red Onion is best, but I used Dried Minced--given my personal fresh onion aversion)
1 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
4 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro (or 4 tsp. Dried Cilantro)
1 tsp. Black Pepper
1 tsp. Sea Salt
Optional: 7 shakes/dashes of Tabasco or other Hot Sauce for extra flavor and just a bit of spice (I definitely used it)
2 Roma Tomatoes, Diced

Directions:
1.  In large bowl, place Avocados and lime juice.  Combine well using a masher.
2.  Add in the onion, garlic, cilantro, pepper, salt (and Tabasco if you prefer).  Continue to combine with the masher.
3.  Fold in the diced tomatoes and stir well.
4.  Let sit for 45 minutes to an hour and serve!

Enjoy!

Storing Tip:  If you want, you can make this dip a day ahead of time and store in the refrigerator.  The acidic lime juice in the guacamole should keep the avocados from browning.  This way, it can be a make-ahead dip to relieve you of doing all your cooking in one day.

Sun-dried Tomato & Avocado Pasta

I love to make a batch of the Sun-dried Tomato & Avocado Pasta on Sunday, store it in the refrigerator, and then eat it for lunch or dinner throughout the week.  It has a lot of healthy fats, fiber, and lean protein, making it an amazingly healthy meal that keeps you full for hours (but not weight-gaining-full--in fact, I usually lose weight eating this meal).  Because there are a lot of healthy fats in this meal, it is somewhat calorically-dense, so be sure to watch your portion sizes.  Some of the key healthy ingredients in this recipe are: the avocado, lean bacon, whole wheat/grain pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive oil.  
The avocado has: heart-healthy fats (the kind that reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol), lots of folate (great for reproductive, eye, and heart health), beta-sitosterol (reduces blood cholesterol), and potassium (reduce blood pressure).  
Turkey or veggie bacon provide healthy lean protein; just be sure to look at the sodium content as well as chemicals and preservatives in these to avoid health-damaging effects.   
Whole wheat/whole grain pasta provides tremendous health benefits over refined white pasta.  It is more filling (more fiber) and better for you, reducing your risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin-resistance over eating refined carbs (e.g. white pasta).  Sun-dried tomatoes provide  lycopene and other antioxidants (like Vitamin C) to fight free radicals, prevent cancer, and promote heart health.
Olive oil, although calorically-dense, is amazing for heart health (increases HDL "good" cholesterol, while lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol and reduces blood pressure) and weight maintenance/loss.  As a staple of the "life-lengthening" Mediterranean diet, olive oil contributes to overall improved health. 


Ingredients (~= 6 servings):
1 Box (13.5 oz) Whole Grain/Wheat Pasta (I used Ronzoni Health Harvest Fusilli, but Penne, Bow Tie, Fettuccine, or any other pasta is also fine)
1 Avocado, diced
1/2 cup Julienne-cut Sun-dried tomatoes (I cut them up even smaller)
6-8 oz Turkey or Veggie bacon, cooked and crumbled (I used Morningstar Farms Bacon Strips)
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil, extra-virgin
1 Tbsp. Sherry Cooking Wine
1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Lime (Juice of 1/2 a Lime)
1 tsp. Basil


Directions: 
1. Dice the Avocado.  Cut the sun-dried tomatoes into smaller pieces. Cook and crumble the bacon.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.  Cook pasta according to package directions.
3. While the pasta cooks, combine the diced avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, cooked/crumbled bacon, olive oil, sherry cooking wine, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, lime juice, and basil (i.e. all the other ingredients) in a mixing bowl.
4. Drain the pasta.
5.  Add pasta to the avocado/bacon mixture.  Toss and stir well to coat.  
6.  Serve at any temperature--immediately as hot or refrigerated.  It tastes great either way!