| The avocado is a pear shaped fruit that can also | | | | ingredient in milk shakes in Brazil and Vietnam. |
| be known as an alligator pear. Avocados are | | | | Sushi chefs use avocados in California Rolls while in |
| grown in warm temperate climates with the | | | | the Philippines avocados can be found in dessert |
| average avocado tree producing around 120 | | | | drinks made with milk and sugar.When shopping |
| avocados a year.Avocados have a tendency to | | | | for avocados buy fruit that that yields slightly too |
| turn brown or oxidize once sliced. To prevent this | | | | gently pressure and reserve the firm fruit for use |
| from happening squirt lime or lemon juice on the | | | | later during the week. Color can not be used as |
| avocado after it is peeled. The citrus juice acts as | | | | an indicator of ripeness. Some varieties of |
| an antioxidant and prevents oxidation of the | | | | avocado remain light green in color even when |
| avocado flesh.An average sized avocado contains | | | | ripe.If you want to speed the ripening of firm |
| around 5 grams of fat per serving with 60 | | | | avocados place them in a paper bag and leave it |
| percent of that fat being monounsaturated fat | | | | on the counter for a day or two. When the |
| which is considered a good fat. Monounsaturated | | | | avocados ripen simply cut the avocado in half |
| fats like that found in avocados can help to | | | | length wise and remove the pit. Then peel the |
| reduce the risk of heart disease.Avocados are | | | | skin with your fingers or a sharp knife and eat |
| also dense in dietary fiber and packed full of | | | | immediately.Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who |
| nutrients. When you eat an avocado you are | | | | specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has |
| getting vitamins B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, | | | | extensive experience cooking with easy to find |
| potassium, folate and phytochemicals that are | | | | grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. |
| known to help fight some forms of cancer and | | | | She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly |
| other chronic illnesses.Avocados have a wide | | | | gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun |
| range of uses from the common dip guacamole | | | | and informational packed with tips and trivia you |
| to sandwiches and can even be found as an | | | | can use everyday. |