deglazing.com

I have been thinking about this site a lot lately.  I think it’s important to provide you with lots of information on everything from kitchen skills to recipes.  I hope these pieces help to make your kitchen experiences more enjoyable. 

Today I am going to talk about avocados.  I thought avocados were a great ingredient to talk about in the week before Super Bowl.  So here’s a little history and helpful information on avocados.  Check out the end of this piece for recipes with avocados. 

Avocados have long been misunderstood, one of those fruits that most people consider a vegetable and given the notorious distinction of being fatting.  Avocados are high in fat, but good fat.  This fruit is native to Central and South America, but of course, grown elsewhere now.  The most popular variety of all avocados is the dark skinned Hass (also known as Haas) avocado.  Another common type in the US is the Florida avocado, which is larger and lighter in color.  Avocado has a great creamy texture that works great with spicier Tex-Mex foods.  The most common of all avocado dishes is, of course, guacamole.  Hass avocados work great in guacamole, with their incredibly smooth and creamy texture. 

You can find avocados year round.  Avocados are considered ripe when they give slightly to a gentle squeeze.  Be very careful when squeezing an avocado, they bruise easily.  A couple of things I did realize about avocados is they should be stored in the fridge (for up to a week) once ripened and you can mash avocados with lemon or lime juice and store them frozen for up to five months. 

Here are a couple of links on avocado recipes:

Emeril’s Shrimp and Avocado Salad - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_33548,00.html?rsrc=search

Juan Carlos Cruz’s Chicken and Avocado Quesadilla - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_27645,00.html?rsrc=search

Tyler Florence’s Egg Salad Sandwich with Avocado and Watercress - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_28652,00.html?rsrc=search

Or a recipe from over at Epicurious.com - Tortilla Soup with Crisp Tortillas and Avocado Relish  - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/101126