Salsa Guacamole

Chips, dips, and salsa are big when it comes to family celebrations or big sports celebrations like the upcoming Super Bowl, so I thought I would share a lower calorie version of guacamole that tastes very good without the addition of mayonnaise or sour cream. When I came across this recipe I was a little skeptical about how good it could possibly taste without sour cream, but it is a very good and healthy alternative to high fat dips. Of course, the tortilla chips can still be a bit of a challenge, but goodness, the Super Bowl only comes once a year; enjoy! Blessings...

Recipe:

6 small ripe avocados, halved, pitted and peeled
1/4 cup fresh lemon or lime juice, approximately, add to your taste and the consistency you like.
1 cup salsa
2 green onions, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. salt or to taste
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Tortilla chips

1. In a bowl, mash avocados with lemon or lime juice.
2. Stir in salsa, onions, salt and garlic powder. Taste and adjust seasoning
if needed. Serve immediately with chips.

Yield: 4 cups
2 tbsps. = 10 calories

This recipe is from a "Taste of Home" cookbook.

Guacamole Tossed Salad

This recipe is yummy, or as I wrote in the Taste of Home Cookbook that it comes from, "Excellent". It is very similar to the Avocado and Tomato Salad posted on 8/9/2012 except that this recipe incorporates lettuce making it a more standard kind of dinner side. It is very Mexican in flavor, just as the title suggests. I didn't have any red onion so I substituted green onion, which tasted great. The salad is served alongside Chicken Quesadillas which I'll post next week. Blessings...

Recipe:

2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 small red onion, sliced and separated into rings or finely chopped
6 bacon strips, fried crisp and crumbled
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsps. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
2 large ripe avocados, peeled and cubed
4 cups torn salad greens

1. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion and bacon.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce. Pour over tomato mixture; toss gently. Add avocados.
3. Place the greens in a large salad bowl; add the avocado mixture and toss to coat.
Serve immediately

Yield: 4 - 6 servings

Tex-Mex Dip

My plan was to post this wonderful recipe last week before the Super Bowl but, life got in the way, so I'm going to move forward with the post and it will be available for other gatherings of family and friends to come. This is our family's favorite of favorites. We love it; maybe it will become a favorite of your family, as well. Blessings...

Recipe:

2 cans (9 oz. each) bean dip
3 avocados, peeled
2 tbsps. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup low-fat sour cream
1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) taco seasoning (see note)
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sliced ripe olives (2 3-1/2 oz. cans, drained)
4 green onions with tops, sliced
1 large tomato, chopped and seeded
Tortilla chips

1. Spread bean dip on a 12-inch serving plate.
2. In a small bowl, mash the avocados with lemon juice and pepper; spread over bean dip.
3. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise and taco seasoning; spread over the avocado layer.
4. Sprinkle with cheese, olives, onions and tomato.
5. Serve with tortilla chips.

Yield: 8-10 servings
Note: 2 tbsps. Southwest seasoning can be used in place of taco seasoning, if you have it.

Avocado and Tomato Salad

On our recent vacation to visit family, our niece made this wonderful salad for a family barbecue hosted by our son and daughter-in-law. The salad has the wonderful full flavor of fresh tomatoes and avocado that the San Joaquin Valley is known for in the summer. We enjoyed the salad along with hot dogs, beans, watermelon, chips and a wonderful birthday cake Mom made for our great-niece. This wonderful gathering of our family will be a time I will always remember fondly. Blessings...

Recipe:   

6 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
2 tbsps. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 drops red pepper sauce
2 medium avocados, cubed
2 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 small onion, chopped or 3 green onions, thinly sliced

1. Mix oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and red pepper sauce; pour over avocados. Toss.
2. Stir in bacon, tomatoes and onion.
3. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours.

Serves:  4 to 6