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