The Alligator Pear

The Alligator Pear (Nutritional facts listed below poetry)
by Randi, The Muffin Lady
courtesy of Ann Telling



Let me tell you about The Alligator Pear. 


Oh boy is he good too. 


He doesn’t walk or talk but is 
fervent about pleasing.

And his dress can be decadent or plain, it is a matter of personal feasting.

He has a tendency to grow in warm moist areas, but is neither animal, reptile nor amphibian! 


He comes in only one color, but varies according to meridian. 


He is round but long, skinny but fat, and even has a seed on the inside of his hat.

Do you know the Alligator pear?   He is found everywhere.

More than likely he hides in the grocery all dressed in green.

When you find him fully preened, please call him by his formal name...
    ... his fame... his motto:
  
              ... the Avocado. 

Thanks for sharing this poetry about the Avocado, Ann and Randi!

How about some nutrition facts:

Even though they are fruits, avocados contain a lot of a fat (between 71 to 88% of their total calories - about 20 times the average for other fruits). However, the 30 grams of fat boast a 20 grams of health-promoting monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid. 

A medium-sized avocado contains as much fat as a quarter-pound burger. Nutritionists say the monounsaturated fat in an avocado is the "good" kind that actually lowers cholesterol levels. Because of this new understanding, the U.S. government revised its official nutrition guidelines to urge Americans to eat more avocados.

For even more information, please visit the Avocado Page on WebMD.

Monounsaturated fat, the same kind of fat as olives, may help lower cholesterol. Also avocados are extremely high in Vitamin K, high in beta carotene, folate (a B vitamin), fiber, and potassium (ounce for ounce avocados contain 60% more potassium than bananas). To put the fat in perspective, per ounce avocados have less fat than lean beef, and a whole Haas avocado (the highest fat variety) has less fat than 3 tablespoons of Italian salad dressing. So, go right ahead and put some guacamole on your sandwich, baked potato, salad, dip, hamburger, taco or burrito!

Avocado and Meat-Poultry-Fish Sandwiches

Instead of mayonnaise, I often substitute healthier alternatives. One of them is avocado. Sometimes, just sliced avocados suffices - other times, it's guacamole spread on bread. From there, tuna spread, sliced ham, egg salad spread, sliced chicken, hamburger... well, you get the idea. Just about any leftovers are perfect for sandwich making.


Recently I happened upon a wonderful blog! It's Traimie's Kitchen, Cooking at Midnight. She has tremendously healthy oriented food using simple, yet gourmet, ingredients which are not too expensive. Here is one sample of her yummy concoctions.

Visit Traimies blog for this delicious recipe, using Guacamole and Filet Mignon. I hope this post has provided inspiration for how to use those highly nutritious avocados! (Click on the graph below for a readable version).

Hope you enjoy the new recipe ideas!

Avocado and Tomato Sandwich

Vegetable sandwiches are delicious and a nice way of enjoying a few of our daily servings in a lunch time meal.

This sandwich features sliced tomatoes, whole leaf spinach, and avocado spread.

(Check side column for Guacamole and Kale Chips recipes)

Cool and nutritiously loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids and minerals, this combination also provides essential fatty acids. 

Eat Hearty!

Guacamole

 INGREDIENTS 

2 avocados (soft)

1/2 lemon, juiced

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Cut the avocados into halves. 

Remove the seeds, and scoop out the pulp into a small bowl. 

Using a fork to mash the avocado, stir in lemon juice, onion, salt, cilantro and olive oil. 

Cover the bowl, and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

NOTE: Most avocados are delivered unripened at the store. They actually ripen quickly off the tree, within 3 days, stored in a paper bag

Avocado Cottage Cheese Salad

Avocado Salads are versatile, nutritious ways of incorporating many vitamins to one's diet.

High in Omega Three Oils, Avocados are helpful in fighting inflammation and heart disease.

The salad above was created using Avocado, Cucumber, Cottage Cheese, 

seasoned with multi cracked peppercorns, diced Red Bell Peppers and Garlic Bulb roasted in Garlic and Basil Infused Olive Oil.

Try creating your own work of art using these wonderful gifts of Mother Nature!

(click on the nutrition facts below for a readable version)