Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Festive Holiday Treats


Spice up the Holidays with Festive Treats
For the usual Holiday feast there are several spins we can add to our festive menus to create healthy and warming dishes. Also preparing healthy and light snacks and salads to compliment our meals or snacks will help keep the "Holiday Bulge" to a minimum.

Festive Guacamole Dip is a wonderful and pretty addition of a bright green and tasty enjoyment. Avocados are packed with wonderful nutrients and healthy fats that are wonderful for skin and health. Your family and guests will never know what a health packed punch you have added to the party. All they will know is how great it tastes!

Festive Guacamole Dip

Prep time: 20 min.

Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving

Use within 2 days (Avocados will begin to brown, causing your dip to look rather drab. It is best to serve this dip the same day)
You will need a mixing bowl, cutting board, scissors, knife, spoon, and food processor.

Oils and lime juice are drizzled over avocados and green onions and herbs to help process these easily. Use lime juice sparingly until you create the taste desired. You can use regular oil such as soybean or olive but the prepared submarine oil with herbs and vinegar really give this dip the secret kick your friends will be raving about.

Wash all vegetables thoroughly

3 Avocados
1 to 2 vine ripe tomatoes(depending on size, 1 medium is best)
3 to 5 green onions
1 cup cut cilantro
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1/2 tsp salt
lime juice
submarine oil(found in the deli isle at your local grocer or market)
jalapeno optional (recommend pickled jalapeno slices)

Start with preparing avocados, cut in half and remove pitts. Scoop avocado from skin and place in processor. Drizzle a little of the oil over avocados to help aid in consistency for processing. Remove from processor. Cut green onions with scissors, about inch long chunks into the processor. Cut cilantro with scissors into your cup, crush down a bit to get a good cup. Add cilantro to onions, drizzle with oils and process. Make sure your pieces are processed well, and add to avocado. Next core and quarter your tomato and bell pepper. Place in processor, here you can add your jalapeno also. I like to use hot pickled jalapeno slices and I add approximately 3 to 5 slices. Drizzle with a light amount of lime juice. Once these are processed add to avocado mixture and stir. Add salt and more herbed oil and lime juice to taste. Stir well, and you can mash any avocado chunks easily with a fork.

Refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving. This let the herbs and vegetable infuse the mixture.

You can serve the dip alone, as a garnish or as a salad pictured above. This is a great and easy recipe. The refreshing guacamole dip is very versatile and the recipe is easy to prepare and alter to your preferred tastes.

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