Avocado Surprise

When I came across this article on MindBodyGreen.com, I was shocked to read the headline and actually had to read it a few times! It was an avocado surprise to me! I had never, ever, considered the fact that you can eat the avocado pit or seed! Yes, I said the seed!! The following is a direct excerpt from the article on MindBodyGreen.com, and I will be trying the avocado pit smoothie for sure! The curiosity is killing me! Mind blown.

It comes as no surprise that avocados are incredibly healthy, but did you know that the pit houses most of its antioxidants? That’s right — the part that you have been throwing away! By consuming it, you will reap the following benefits:

 

• It acts as a digestive aid. Because the pit is high in soluble fiber, your GI tract will love it.

• The fiber will alsokeep you feeling full, thereby diminishing cravings.

• Considering the pit is full of antioxidants, it willkeep your skin glowing. In fact, it can even repair cell damage caused by free radicals and rebuild collagen.

• A phytochemical known as flavonol is found in the seed, which mayreduce tumor growth.

• A study conducted by Pennsylvania State University found that the avocado seeds may improve high cholesterol and even help in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes.

• It contains several nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

In order to utilize these nutritious powerhouses, you can either blend them up in your smoothies or grate them and then sprinkle them on top of your salads or other food. If you do not have a high-powered blender, you can grind the pit into a fine powder using a food processor. Because the seed tastes bitter, it is best to pair it with strong flavors. You may want to just utilize half of the pit at a time for a single-serve smoothie.

Delicious Avocado Pit Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond milk
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1½ medium banana
• 1 avocado pit or avocado pit powder
• 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder of choice
• 5 drops essential orange oil (optional)

Preparation

In a blender, combine all the ingredients and blend on a medium-high setting for a minute. Enjoy!

Super Bowl Ceviche

Today I have been doing some grocery shopping. I am getting all that I need to make a buffet of deliciousness tomorrow for Super Bowl 50! I am not necessarily a fan of either team, but I am a fan of DeMarcus Ware, so we will be rooting for the Denver Broncos! D-Ware had to leave the Dallas Cowboys in order to get to the Super Bowl, go figure. Anyways, my first dish to get the party started is a traditional party dish for me. The kids call it shrimp salad, but it will be known this year as Super Bowl Ceviche! I serve this with a side of blue tortilla chips, and it is a touchdown party food!

SUPER BOWL CEVICHE

INGREDIENTS:

1 generous pound of shrimp, I get the 41/50 and cut smaller

1/2 large sweet onion, diced

1 medium serrano pepper, seed and deveined, then diced

3 avocados, diced

6 roma tomatoes, diced

1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

3-4 Cups Clamato tomato juice

juice of 3 lemons

1-2 Tablespoons Tapatio hot sauce (more or less depending on your heat preference)

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon salt (more or less depending on taste)

Organic blue tortilla chips to serve the ceviche with

DIRECTIONS:

Chop the shrimp into smaller pieces. I like to try to have all the chunky ingredients about the same size. Squeeze the juice of the 3 lemons over the shrimp and refrigerate it.

Mince your onion and deveined serrano pepper into small pieces. Make these uniform so that they are not overwhelming in the ceviche.

Chop the cilantro, tomatoes, and avocados, again into small diced pieces, larger that the serrano and onion.

Add all of these ingredients to the shrimp bowl. Add seasonings:garlic powder, cumin, salt, Tapatio, and pepper. Add the Clamato juice. (I make my ceviche on the wet side. If you prefer a less runny ceviche, add the juice cup by cup to meet your preference.) Stir until all ingredients are mixed well.

Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, but it is best served the day you make it. You can serve the ceviche in martini glasses, sundae glasses or small bowls. Garnish with sprigs of cilantro and a side of blue tortilla chips.

Enjoy my Super Bowl Ceviche and Go Broncos!!